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TOURISM
- January
2000 Feature Article by John Gaver
Kentucky's
Golden Triangle (the area comprised of Lexington, Louisville and Northern
Kentucky) is the heart of the Commonwealth's business and economic
activity. Peppered throughout this geographic region are a variety of
hotels, affording business travelers and tourists alike modern conveniences,
plush accommodations and impeccable customer service. Gone are the days
of "build it and they will come", as modern hotels must develop
proactive strategies to cater to an ever-discriminating public –
creating a sense of style and ambiance for folks on vacation while balancing
the needs of the business traveler who wants to feel at home on the
road. The following informational guide is a summation of the amenities
that some major hotels in Kentucky's Golden Triangle have to offer
visitors to Kentucky and natives alike.
LOUISVILLE The Camberley
Brown Hotel Built in 1923 by the philanthropist J. Graham Brown, the award-winning Camberley Brown Hotel, located in the heart of Louisville's Theatre Square, has been one of the city's most treasured historic landmarks. The Camberley Brown achieves the difficult to accomplish task of combining good old-fashioned Southern charm with an exciting sense of modern style and the ornate splendor which has made Louisville famous. The hotel's Georgian Revival-style exterior is faced with brick and trimmed with stone and terra cotta. Interiors are designed in the plush English Renaissance mode, replete with antique furnishings, intricate plaster moldings, coffered ceilings, stained glass, Bottocino marble, polished brass and mahogany and varied oak accents. Accommodations include 292 guestrooms and suites elegantly designed to reflect relaxed Southern gentility. The hotel's English Grill is a Louisville mainstay and has been designated as a AAA Four-Diamond restaurant. J. Graham's Café is open daily for breakfast and lunch, while the Thoroughbred Lounge, just off the Grand Lobby, affords patrons the opportunity to unwind with cocktails and other beverages. A 24-hour fitness center is complimentary to all guests of the hotel and for a small fee, an indoor pool at a nearby athletic club can be utilized; tee times can be arranged at a course 10 minutes away. Located at the corner of Fourth and Broadway, the Camberley Brown is just two minutes from the Louisville Convention Center, theatres, shopping, business districts and Churchill Downs.
The
Galt House Hotel Louisville's Galt House is a state landmark that is oozing with history and charm. In the early 1800's, the original Galt House was actually the residence of Dr. W.C. Galt at the corner of Second and Main Street. In 1835, a 60-room hotel was opened as The Galt House on the opposite corner and was noted for its standard of excellence in food and lodging. The hotel has played host to such famous guests as Jefferson Davis; Charles Dickens and Presidents Lincoln, Grant, Hayes and Buchanan. In March of 1864, Generals Grant and Sherman planned their strategy which led to the capture of Atlanta while staying at The Galt House. In 1865 the hotel was destroyed by fire but re-opened for businesses in 1869 at the corner of First and Main Street. Known for its elegant crystal chandeliers, the refurbished Galt House was at the center of Louisville's social scene, as evidenced by guests such as Presidents Arthur, Fillmore and Taft, as well as actresses Lillian Russell and Sarah Bernhardt. The hotel was subsequently razed in 1921, as it was considered past its heyday at the end of World War I, leaving behind memories of its vibrant past for the next 50 years. In 1972, the new Galt House was built, becoming Kentucky's largest hotel, and in 1985 the new Galt House East "All Suite" Tower was added, making the 1300 room facility one of the 150 largest hotels in the United States. Amenities at the
Galt House include 600 executive suites, 180,000-S.F. of meeting and
exhibit space, three on-site restaurants and lounges and a prime location
in the heart of downtown Louisville on the banks of the Ohio.
The
Seelbach Hilton Louisville One of the Kentucky's premier destination experiences, the Seelbach Hilton, is not to be outdone on the history front. The Seelbach's claim to fame, among other things, is the mention it received in F. Scott Fitzgerald's literary classic The Great Gatsby. The venerable edifice is also Louisville's only Four Star, Four Diamond Hotel; is home to Kentucky's first and only Five Diamond Restaurant, The Oakroom and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The hotel is located
in the epicenter of downtown Louisville – three blocks from the
Louisville Convention Center and within walking distance to the banks
of the Ohio River and Derby City's arts district. Additional amenities include an on-site fitness center and a newly renovated $2 million concierge level.
LEXINGTON Camberley
Club Hotel at Gratz Park The Camberley Club
Hotel at Gratz Park (formerly the Gratz Park Inn) is an elegantly refurbished
three-story medical building dating from 1887. The hotel, built in 1916,
offers city style amidst the elegance of historic Gratz Park –
a perfect venue for jogging and walking. The 52 rooms feature very traditional
decoration adorned in antique reproductions of the 19th century. Highlights
include continental breakfasts, afternoon teas and evening cordials. Camberley's Hotel at Gratz Park, a AAA (three diamond) rated hotel, features three meeting rooms, the largest of which has a capacity of 75 persons; the maximum capacity for banquets is 60. The hotel is also home to one of downtown Lexington's better dining opportunities, Jonathan's at Gratz Park. The upscale restaurant offers a unique menu and eclectic atmosphere amid the historic surroundings of Gratz Park and Transylvania University.
Hilton
Suites Lexington Green Centrally located at the intersection of Nicholasville and New Circle Road, the Hilton Suites Lexington Green is a modern, all-suite facility nestled within a unique 40-acre retail development. All 174 deluxe two-room suites are complete with in-room refreshment centers, coffee makers, refrigerators, two telephones, two color televisions and on-demand movies. As a full-service hotel, Hilton Suites Lexington Green features a restaurant and a lounge, in addition to a health club, sauna, whirlpool and outdoor swimming pool. Hotel meeting facilities can accommodate groups up to 160 people and four executive boardrooms hold eight people each. An additional 25 restaurants are located in the immediate area, with a specialty shopping mall (the Mall at Lexington Green), movie theatre complex and comedy club housed next door. Local attractions within a short drive of the hotel include the Headley Whitney Museum, a collection of art and rare jewelry; the Hunt Morgan House and the Kentucky State Capitol Building in Frankfort.
NORTHERN
KENTUCKY Embassy
Suites at RiverCenter Embassy Suites at RiverCenter, a recipient of the "Rose Award", is one of the best Embassy Suites Hotels in the world. Noted for hometown hospitality and superior customer service, the hotel continually strives to provide their guests with the very best accommodations and facilities. Located on the south banks of the Ohio River in Covington, Kentucky – in the shadows of Greater Downtown Cincinnati, the hotel is within walking distance to professional sports venues and Covington Landing. With riverboat restaurants, nightclubs and various excursions being docked at the hotel, there is never a shortage of activity. Each suite is designed with the comforts of home in mind – a living room with a full-size sofa sleeper, easy chair and dining table; a bedroom with one king or two double beds; a spacious bath and an unstocked wet bar with microwave, refrigerator and coffee maker. Dry cleaning, laundry services, an indoor pool, sauna, a fitness center and meeting facilities are also available.
Cincinnati
Airport Marriott The newly opened Cincinnati Airport Marriott is a 295-room hotel located off I-275 at KY 20 in Hebron, a stone's throw from the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. The facility offers an upscale design and is just minutes from corporate giants such as Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, Entex and FidelityInvestments. The hotel features 14,000-S.F. of meeting space, nine executive boardrooms, an indoor pool, fitness center, the RiverCity Grille and Lounge and more than 200 guestrooms designated as the "Room that Works." The rooms are designed with the business traveler in mind and include a spacious console table and writing desk with an ergonomic chair and a two-line telephone with speakerphone and data port. The 7,677-S.F. International Ballroom can divide into six sections, accommodating up to 960 for receptions and 600 for banquets, and the 2,000-S.F. Atrium Terrace is the perfect venue for receptions and breaks. The hotel also has nine additional meeting rooms for small and medium-sized meetings.
John Gaver is editorial director of The Lane Report.
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