Downtown hotel begins renovating rooms

By Victor Yang - Herald-Leader Staff Writer

The Lexington Downtown Hotel and Conference Center announced the start on Thursday of renovation on its 367 guest rooms as a component of its $13 million revamping project that began in March.

Renovation of the building, formerly the Radisson Plaza Hotel, is the result of a joint venture between Interstate Hotels and Resorts, an affiliate of Madison W Properties Inc., and the hotel's 1982 builder, The Webb Companies.

The guest rooms will be updated with a design concept and blue-green color theme reminiscent of Kentucky's equestrian landscape, a press release said. Large flat-panel LCD televisions will also be installed in guest rooms.

"I want to make sure when people stay at this hotel, their impression of Lexington and the elegance that's in Lexington is matched by the hotel," said Peter C. Lewis, president and chief investment officer of Madison W Properties.

The renovation also includes the facility's atrium, grand ballroom, meeting rooms and restaurant, Café on the Park. The hotel lobby will feature a horse sculpture by Lexingtonian Seth Tuska above a fountain designed by Tamara Cassidy; one of Doug Prather's equine photographs was installed last March.

The renovations are projected to be completed by early summer of 2010, in time for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.