Hilton properties in Aruba, Florida and Utah have all undergone multi-million dollar renovations.
Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino
The Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino is undergoing a progressive resort enhancement project. Set to debut in fall of 2025, the $100 million property-wide re-imagination includes an expansion with a new beachfront tower, new culinary concepts and upgrades to the existing towers’ guest rooms.
“These enhancements will redefine the guest experience at the award-winning resort and further expand our legacy as a top destination for visitors to Aruba,” General Manager Lawrence Tuck said in a statement. “During the project, we are continuing to welcome visitors with the exceptional service and hospitality that we are known for and look forward to surpassing expectations once the expansion is completed.”
Groundbreaking on the new oceanfront tower began in May 2023 and when completed, this sophisticated addition to the property will have views of the Palm Beach. Adding 161 high-end accommodations, including 18 oceanfront suites, this new tower will operate as an exclusive “hotel within a hotel” experience. With mid-century modern design elements, the tower will feature an exclusive adults-only rooftop club concept with spanning views of the Caribbean Sea. Guestrooms and suites in the resort’s existing Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao towers will receive a refresh, set to be complete this fall.
As part of the enhancement project, Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino will also introduce new dining concepts over the next two years. The resort’s breakfast restaurant, Laguna, has been fully reimagined into an exciting new concept serving both breakfast and dinner. The property’s existing Gilligan’s Seafood Shack is transforming into a newly refined al fresco restaurant and bar, Shore Club, situated between the resort’s two zero-entry pools and the soft white sand of Palm Beach. Shore Club also boasts a rooftop event space perfect for small gatherings, weddings and events. Sunset Bar, previously Mira Solo, the resort’s spacious outdoor bar and lounge, is now reimagined and updated, having re-opened in May 2024. Sunset Grille, the resort’s fine dining restaurant with sunset views, will debut revamped design upgrades in the fall of 2024.
Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront (Florida)
Driftwood Hospitality Management completed an extensive multimillion-dollar renovation for the Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront, a 295-key flagship property in Florida's Space Coast. The transformative project showcases DHM’s commitment to providing an unparalleled guest experience in one of the nation's most beloved beach destinations.
The renovations, encompassing seven floors and more than 10,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, draw inspiration from Cocoa Beach's natural beauty and vibrant surf culture. There is a refreshed lobby featuring sandy hues and ocean-inspired artwork and invited to relax in the newly renovated guestrooms featuring soothing blue tones and local surfing photography.
"Our goal was to create a welcoming and immersive environment that captures the essence of coastal living," David Buddemeyer, founder and president of Driftwood Hospitality Management, said in a statement. "Every aspect of the design, from the color palette to the artwork, has been carefully curated to evoke a sense of relaxation and connection with the stunning beachfront setting. We are proud to be part of this community and are dedicated to creating a destination that both locals and visitors can enjoy for years to come."
Renovated by Hospitality Project Advisors, a project management and consulting firm based in Palm Beach, Fla., the Hilton Cocoa Beach has modern property-wide updates from DHM’s growing Lifestyle Division. With recent works including the Hotel Rumbao in San Juan, Puerto Rico; the Scottsdale Resort and Spa Curio Collection in Scottsdale, Ariz.; and the Houston Hotel Vesper – Tribute by Marriott in Houston, Texas, the firm’s Lifestyle Division has exceeded brand expectations in every hotel managed, with the Hilton Cocoa Beach as its latest example.
“Being part of this renovation in one of the most compelling hotel markets in the country offered a unique opportunity to encapsulate the area’s unique heritage,” said Ed Nystrom, president of Hospitality Project Advisors. “Like in every other project, we needed to remain conscious of the local culture and implement key characteristics in every part of this project, resulting in a refreshed look for one of the Space Coast’s largest oceanfront properties.”
In addition to the aesthetic updates, the hotel has introduced new amenities and experiences. The beachfront dining venues, Waves Craft Bar & Kitchen and Castaways Beach Bar, have been refreshed with new menus featuring coastal cuisine and handcrafted cocktails. The pool area has also been redesigned, fire pits, and a surf-inspired lounge.
The Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront is located 15 minutes away from Port Canaveral and Patrick Space Force Base, 25 minutes away from Kennedy Space Center, and located near a variety of eco-tourism adventures.
DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Salt Lake City Downtown
Downtown Salt Lake City’s only all suite, full-service hotel, DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Salt Lake City Downtown completed an extensive renovation including a redesign of the central atrium, lobby, guestrooms, food and beverage concepts, fitness center and indoor pool. The hotel is managed by HRI Hospitality and design is led by Studio 11.
“We are thrilled to unveil a reimagined property to our guests that showcases the vibrant beauty of the city,” Area Vice President and GM Joe Snarr said in a statement. “The refreshed spaces and redefined concepts have dynamically transformed the hotel into a downtown social hub, providing a perfect combination of fun, convenience and relaxation to leisure and business travelers.”
With design led by Dallas-based Studio 11, DoubleTree Suites Salt Lake City’s new aesthetic is inspired by the magnetic character of the city, from the bustling art scene and mountain vistas to its urban growth and innate sense of positivity. In staying true to Utah's natural colors, Studio 11 utilized mixed metals, blacks and coppers throughout the spaces to create a seamless connection between the beauty of the surroundings and the modern comforts within. Combining a contemporary street edge with hints of warm, natural materials and rugged textures, the hotel’s color palette incorporates playful orange, granite gray and dusty blues accented by the layering of greenery and upbeat lighting. A consistent shape language was thoughtfully integrated into various elements such as corridor and guestroom carpeting, and fabric and area rug designs, creating a harmonious flow and visual connection between different areas of the hotel and enhancing the overall guest experience.
DoubleTree Suites Salt Lake City caters to all types of travelers, from individuals and families to business groups, adventure travelers and everything in between. The property’s 241 all-suite rooms provide a residential-style escape adorned with geometric carpeting and custom SLC-inspired artwork featuring abstract designs and bold pops of color to create a modern yet organic ambiance. New furniture offers comfortable and chic accommodations with colorful plush seating in dark blue and gray hues, rich mahogany desks and dressers and decorative pendant lighting throughout each room. Upgraded kitchen amenities include sleek, glass-front mini fridges, microwaves and functional wet bars. Guest bathrooms have Crabtree & Evelyn amenities, updated showerheads, chrome fixtures and backlit mirrors. Enhancing comfort and efficiency, new Wi-Suite guestroom thermostats feature a sophisticated touch-screen display with up-to-the-minute local weather updates, driving energy savings and sustainability through real-time data capture, proactive alerts, and maintenance schedules.
The renovation brings a fresh take on DoubleTree Salt Lake City’s locally driven food and beverage concepts. The property’s signature restaurant, Red Beryl Kitchen, has upgraded finishes throughout with expanded seating areas home to dark wood dining tables, white and black accented chairs and earthy, cocoa-colored custom banquettes. Located adjacent to the restaurant, Red Beryl Bar houses a new feature bar and a 10-tap beer tower with a sleek black finish. Dusty blue tiles along the bar sit beside barstools that introduce a welcome pop of burnt orange to the elevated gathering space. Offering shareable bites, local beers and a full liquor menu, the bar and lounge incorporates a communal table, bar and dining tables with leather and velvet chairs, and modern pendants to create an intimate yet inviting atmosphere. The property’s open concept grab-and-go coffee market, DoubleShot, was also updated with blended wood finishings complemented by a soft gray coffee bar and bright menus along the wall.