The Hilton Wilmington-Christiana is heading into the home stretch of an $7 million renovation of the hotel.
General Manager Brad Wenger said the project is on track for a May completion date for the hotel in the busy Christiana-Stanton area.
Work has been completed on guest rooms. Work is underway on the final phase, which includes a new dining area, bar and reception desk.
Also undergoing an upgrade was the fourth floor, which remains accessible by key card. The goal is to provide guests on the floor with a special experience that includes a guest lounge and even a late night snack on the weekend for wedding parties and others.
The fourth floor has long been a feature of the hotel, but was often used as an upgrade for frequent guests, rather than a special amenity, Wenger said.
According to Wenger the floor is being rebranded to “The Club on 4″ and will include experienced based elements that focus on culinary demonstrations, craft cocktails and acoustical music. It will be an environment that will appeal to the most discriminating travelers and be the most sophisticated experience available in our market.”
Working on the rooms took a lot of care and planning, according to Wenger. Some business travelers sleep during the day and work at night.
Wenger said the 266-room hotel is undergoing a “reimagining” as well as a renovation in an effort to appeal to a new generation of travelers.
The emphasis will be on fresh and creative cuisine. Fresh herbs will be grown and harvested on the hotel property, with the goal of the hotel becoming a dining destination.
“The re-imagination of the catering space positions the hotel to offer the market’s best atmosphere, culinary expertise and hospitality available,” Wenger stated.
Now underway is work on a new dining area bar and reception area.
Speaking of key cards, the Hilton has added a system that keeps keys from becoming demagnetized. While six times more expensive than conventional systems, the new technology will address the most frequent complaint of hotel guests, according to Wenger.
The Hilton has long been a top performer within Meyer Jabara., a group of hotels located on the East Coast.
The hotel features 9,000 square feet of meeting spaces and remains a popular destination for weddings and corporate meetings.
While competition has grown over the years, the hotel enjoys a location near major employers like Sallie Mae’s headquarters, Christiana Hospital. and JPMorgan Chase.
