Loews Hotels Expands at Universal Orlando, Sets Its Sights on New Cities

After nearly four decades in the industry, Jonathan Tisch still believes in the power of travel.

“People will still get on a plane or train because they want that experience. Travel is an element people want to be able to do,” the Loews Hotels & Co. President and CEO said at a media event this week.

It is with this attitude that he leads the company that his father, Bob Tisch, and uncle, Larry Tisch, founded 75 years ago, as he and his cousins continue to expand the family business.

Currently operating 24 hotels, Loews has six properties under development, including its highly anticipated Aventura Hotel in Orlando, Fla. The 16-story glass tower building will be Loews Hotels’ sixth on-site property at Universal Orlando Resorts, when it opens in 2018.

Universal Orlando shared a first look at its 600 guestrooms and suites, boasting floor-to-ceiling windows with views of all three Universal Orlando theme parks – Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure, and the new Universal’s Volcano Bay. The sleek design incorporates light wood and white furniture pieces with eggplant and burnt orange accents. Rooms also feature a tablet loaded with the official Universal Orlando Resort app, where guests can check waiting times, look at park maps, order room service, and control the thermostat.

Adventura’s guestrooms feature a sleek design. Photos: Universal Orlando Resorts

The hotel will also feature Orlando’s first rooftop bar, 13 kids’ suites, a resort-style pool with a hot tub and kids’ splash pad, fitness center, high-tech game room, and a gift shop.

The next few years will also see the debut of the Live! By Loews hotel concept, developed in partnership with The Cordish Companies. The first property will open in Arlington, Texas, in 2019, followed by St. Louis, Mo., later that year. Both hotels are located in sports hubs, and are in partnership with the areas’ major league baseball teams.

Located between the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Park and the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium, the $150 million flagship Live! by Loews in Texas will be at the heart of the Arlington Entertainment District.

Live! by Loews – Arlington

The 302-room hotel includes luxury amenities such as an outdoor rooftop terrace for private events and a resort-style infinity edge pool with a swim-up bar, rentable private cabanas, and a fire pit. The Tower Terrace and Event Lawn is designed to be a central gathering place, located through a 40-foot tall, 60-foot wide veranda-style swath cut through the hotel tower. Spanning 35,000 square feet, the two-story convention center includes a 1,500-seat grand ballroom, an executive boardroom with five additional breakout rooms, and 1,500-square foot outdoor terrace.

In St. Louis, the $65 million hotel will be an extension of Ballpark Village, a mixed-use dining and entertainment district near Busch Stadium, developed by Cordish and the St. Louis Cardinals. The eight-story Live! by Loews – St. Louis will feature 216 guestrooms and suites and 17,000 square feet of meeting space with views of the city’s downtown and Busch Stadium and an exclusive outdoor event terrace. On the first floor, guests can dine in the Great Room lounge area and outdoor terrace.

Live! by Loews – St. Louis