The Tempo Hotel is a fantastic addition to downtown Raleigh, and the upcoming OMNI will also elevate the city’s hospitality scene. However, Raleigh still lacks a true 5-star experience like a Ritz-Carlton, Luxury Edition, Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, Park Hyatt, or Andaz (probably not ready for a Four Seasons or Fairmount). For such a luxury hotel to succeed tho, it will need:
Notable Architecture: The design needs to seamlessly blend Raleigh’s modern edge with its historic charm, creating a space that feels both contemporary and rooted in the city’s character.
Luxury Food & Beverage: A signature restaurant, along with a vibrant rooftop space that can attract both locals and visitors by establishing the hotel as a destination.
Event Space: The property should include luxurious ballrooms and meeting spaces capable of hosting corporate after-parties, upscale showcases, and private events like weddings.
Wellness Component: A well-appointed spa is essential, providing business travelers a place to unwind and locals access to premium wellness treatments.
The OMNI will likely be too large to fit into this niche. A hotel in the 130-180 room range would better align with the expectations of guests seeking an elevated experience, focusing heavily on personalized service and exceptional luxury. Guests at this level value privacy and discretion, preferring a hotel with the flexibility to accommodate unique or specific requests. Smaller hotels excel in delivering tailored experiences, which can be harder to maintain at larger-scale operations.
To elaborate - consider a convention with 4,000 attendees. If we estimate that 3% are executives who prefer to stay at luxury hotels, that translates to approximately 120 rooms needed for these guests. Additionally, many conventions host after-parties sponsored by companies and feature prominent booths that seek high-profile locations to enhance their branding and overall experience which currently no location exist in downtown.