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P R O F I L E
Rendering of the interior of the Hotel Phillips in Kansas City / Courtesy, KKAD
Building the brand Arbor Lodging Partners, a Chicago-based hotel owner-operator, decides on ‘comfortable luxury’ for largescale architectural renovation of Kansas City landmark.
“More than simply presenting us with a strong track record of relevant experience, Kraig Kalashi- an and his team’s vision for the project also mir- rors our own,” says Vamsi Bonthala, CEO of Arbor Lodging. “Together, we are committed to honoring the design elements that have made Hotel Phillips an iconic place, while marrying them with modern amenities that discerning guests have come to ap- preciate in a landmark hotel.” Renovation will be top to bottom, and includes the restaurant, a new co ff ee shop, a lower level cock- tail lounge, all 217 guest rooms, and a concerted e ff ort to make the hotel not just a destination for visitors, but for those living in Kansas City. What will not change are the lobby’s features that visi- tors have come to love – intricate bronze and nickel metal works, and decadent walnut paneling. Th e 1931 hotel, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, will remain open during remodel- ing. Th e renovation is expected to be complete by November. Upon completion, the hotel will become part of the Curio Collection by Hilton. Hotel Phil- lips is managed by NVN Hotels, an Arbor Lodging a ffi liate.
By RICHARD MASSEY Managing Editor W hen the request for proposals went out for the interior renovation of the Hotel Phillips, an art deco colossus in the heart of downtown Kan- sas City, the new owner thought about the brand. Th ree diamonds, maybe four, but definitely not five. History and ambience, but price point and functionality, too. Chicago-based Arbor Lodging Partners, which bought the building for $12.5 million in October, poured over as many as eight submittals before se- lecting Kraig Kalashian Architecture & Design (Chester, NJ), to spearhead the marquee project. Th e deciding factor in Kalashian’s favor? Th e firm’s brand of “comfortable luxury,” just the right fit for what Arbor Lodging wants for the 20-story hotel. “More than simply presenting us with a strong track record of relevant experience, Kraig Kalashian and his team’s vision for the project also mirrors our own.”
Kraig Kalashian, Founder, KKAD
See KKAD, page 12
THE ZWEIG LETTER March 7, 2016, ISSUE 1142
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