Woodbine Development Corporation completed a $5.5 million renovation to Hilton Dallas/Park Cities, an 11-story boutique hotel nestled between the Highland Park and Preston Hollow neighborhoods of Dallas. Woodbine hired Merriman Anderson Architects as the architect and interior designer and Lippe Construction as the general contractor for the renovation, which launched in June 2018.
The newly completed renovation added six guestrooms to the hotel’s original total of 224—creating a new total of 230 rooms, including the presidential suite. The Honors Lounge on the 10th floor was repurposed to create five of the six new guestrooms. The fitness center was relocated from the 11th floor to the second floor to make room for the sixth new guestroom as well as the upgraded presidential suite, which was relocated from the 10th to the 11th floor to offer private access to the hotel’s rooftop pool. Thanks to these rearrangements, the presidential suite and the adjacent guestroom also have the ability to be connected to create an expanded, multipurpose accommodation.
All guestroom baths were updated with new tile, showers, vanities, mirrors, lighting and wallcoverings. The bath refresh took cues from the clean, modern style of the rooms, which were remodeled just two years before Woodbine acquired the hotel in 2017. This remodel also included some fresh additions to the guestrooms, such as new desk chairs.
“Woodbine acquired this boutique hotel with the long-term in mind, and this renovation underscores that,” said Dupree Scovell, managing partner and chief investment officer of Woodbine. “These updates enhance the experience our guests have whether they’re visiting for a few hours or a few days. Those staying overnight will enjoy the new bath enhancements as well as upgrades to the restaurant and bar. We also expect the newly elevated dining experience will be a draw for locals who live in nearby neighborhoods or work in Preston Center, offering great options for breakfast, lunch, dinner and happy hour.”
Woodbine made various updates to the Grain restaurant and adjacent bar—for starters, renaming the bar “Woodbine” in celebration of the company’s ownership of the hotel and 45th anniversary in late 2018. The restaurant and bar also welcomed Matt McClure as its new chef. A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu, with a wealth of culinary experience working for top hospitality brands, Chef McClure brings a more localized and from-scratch approach to Grain and Woodbine, with menu offerings that highlight local purveyors and dish up a balance of high-end dry-aged steaks and seafood with light and healthy house-made fare.
Design updates in the restaurant and bar included new furnishings, flooring and lighting, as well as expanded seating thanks to a layout reconfiguration to enhance the private dining space and breakfast bar. Changes augment the overall food-and-beverage experience for leisure travelers, as well as group visitors coming to the hotel for meetings and events inside the hotel’s approximately 11,000 square feet of function space. Also, thanks to the more open concepts in Grain and the Woodbine bar, the hotel now offers more customization and flexibility for private parties and events—and the setup allows for even swifter in-and-out options for breakfast and lunch meetings.
Located near Northwest Highway and the Tollway, the Hilton Dallas/Park Cities is footsteps from Preston Center’s restaurants, shops and offices, a 15-minute drive from Dallas Love Field and a 10-minute drive to the Southern Methodist University. Woodbine oversaw the renovation and serves as the asset manager for the hotel. The property was the first acquisition for Woodbine Legacy Investments, a hospitality-focused real estate investment platform.