Omni Dallas Hotel

DALLAS (November 11, 2011) – Today the City of Dallas and Omni Hotels & Resorts held a ceremonial ribbon-cutting for the opening of the Omni Dallas Hotel. A little more than two years after the groundbreaking, the convention center hotel is officially open for business. Owned by the City of Dallas, the luxury hotel is located on eight acres in the heart of the nation’s eighth-largest city, which is experiencing a renaissance from more than $14 billion in new development underway in and near the urban core.

“As we open the doors to the Omni Dallas Hotel today, we can confidently say Dallas is again competitive,” said Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings. “We have reinvigorated our world-class reputation in the large meetings and convention industry.”

With great anticipation surrounding the opening, the Omni Dallas Hotel has already contracted nearly 300,000 room nights. The hotel, serving as another catalyst for growth, has been instrumental in helping Dallas secure future city-wide meetings and conventions. In the 24 months prior to the May 2009 announcement of the hotel, the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau booked 18 citywide meetings. Since then, the group has booked 55.

“It is an honor to be a part of this important project, and we look forward to the large influx of conventions and meetings the hotel will bring to our city,” said Jack Matthews, President, Matthews Southwest, the project’s developer. “We are proud to say the hotel is opening more than two months ahead of schedule and under budget. This was made possible by the collaboration between the City of Dallas, Balfour/Russell/Pegasus, 5Gstudio_collaborative, BOKA Powell and Omni Hotels & Resorts.”

“This is about more than just a hotel – it is a symbol of our city’s dedication to our future,” said Ed Netzhammer, managing director of the Omni Dallas Hotel. “From the developer and construction team to architects and design firms, I want to thank everyone who had a hand in making this become a reality.”

The Omni Dallas Hotel offers a cosmopolitan yet refined feel showcasing the essence of Dallas with a contemporary glass exterior and native textures, art and other materials enriching the interior. The hotel features more than 7,000 original pieces of art from 150 local artists in the guest rooms and the public spaces. Connected to the Dallas Convention Center by skybridge, the hotel has 1,001 guest rooms and incorporates more than 110,000 square feet of meeting and event space. Included among its 39 meeting rooms are the Dallas and Trinity Ballrooms, encompassing 32,000 and 15,000 square feet respectively.

Dining and leisure options include:
• Bob’s Steak & Chop House, the iconic steak house that is also a longtime Dallas favorite.
• Texas Spice, a casual farm-to-market restaurant that utilizes the area’s freshest products.
• The Owners Box, a state-of-the-art sports bar with the latest technology, including an 18-foot
screen TV and 65-foot long bar.
• Uptown Terrace, on the fourth floor, the urban pool deck offers stunning views of the skyline
as the perfect spot to enjoy lighter fare.
• Mokara Spa, an elegant quiet oasis offering rejuvenation with striking downtown views.
• Lobby Lounge, offering signature cocktails, coffees and light snacks.
• Morsels and Collections, Omni’s largest retail venue features the brand’s signature coffee bar along with items from local establishments, including sports souvenirs, foods and a large assortment of beautiful local art and museum pieces. The individual pieces of art featured in the hotel will be available for purchase from the artists through an interactive art station.

Perfect for visitors or locals looking for a downtown staycation, the hotel is offering the “Definitely Dallas” package through December 30, 2011. Those who book the offer will enjoy rates starting at $111 in honor of the hotel’s opening date – 11/11/11. Terms and conditions as well as more information may be found by at omnidallashotel.com. To book a package on Facebook, guests may visit facebook.com/omnihotels and click on the “Book a Room” tab on the left side of the page. Follow Omni Hotels & Resorts at twitter.com/omnihotels or at twitter.com/omnihotelsPR.

DALLAS (August 10, 2011) – The Omni Dallas Hotel is pleased to announce that it has booked its 250,000th room night, comprised of over 160 meetings and conventions contracted through 2017. Additionally, the hotel is literally crossing a major construction milestone as it puts the finishing touches on the skybridge that connects the headquarters hotel to the Dallas Convention Center as it prepares for these groups to come to Dallas. The Dallas and Trinity Ballrooms are also nearing completion, prior to its scheduled opening in November.
The Omni Dallas Hotel meeting and event space will suit any type of function from grand galas and corporate sales launches to large association meetings with more than 110,000 square feet of space:
• The Dallas Ballroom – the second largest ballroom in Downtown Dallas - features 31,733/15,946 square feet of function and pre-function space respectively, equipped for events up to 3,000 people.
• The Trinity Ballroom features 15,418/4,986 square feet of function and pre-function space respectively, equipped for events up to 1,400 people.
In total, the hotel is designed to accommodate up to 4,500 attendees at any given time with the latest technology and a team of top-caliber convention services professionals. The hotel’s meeting space features interactive signage, specially-designed lighting, custom sound systems by industry leader Walker Engineering, production set-up and rigging points designed by Freeman, state-of-the-art Internet access and 600 amps of show power. The project also has more than 700 parking spots and ample space for exhibit and décor companies needing easy access.
The skybridge offers meeting planners and convention-goers convenient access to more than 2.1 million square feet of meeting space located in the Dallas Convention Center. Guests will have access via the skybridge to level two of the convention center from the two meeting levels of the hotel.
“We are pleased to have created what we believe it the premiere Dallas meeting and events venue,” said Ed Netzhammer, managing director of the Omni Dallas Hotel. “We look forward to welcoming associations and corporate groups to come experience all that Dallas now has to offer.”
The ribbon cutting is scheduled for 11/11/11, and the first group, Dallas-based Freeman, will hold its national sales convention at the property November 13 - 15. Freeman’s sales team will attend two days of training, development, recognition meetings and seminars hosted by the Omni Dallas Hotel, Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Dallas Convention Center.
July 23rd marked the 111th day until the opening of the Omni Dallas Hotel on 11/11/11. To celebrate, the hotel recently launched an $11 offer for meeting planners that includes:
• $11 per gallon of coffee, per day
• $11 breakfast per person, per day
• $11 LCD rental per day
The terms and conditions as well as more information may be found by at omnidallashotel.com. Follow Omni Hotels & Resorts at twitter.com/omnihotels or at twitter.com/omnihotelsPR.

About the Omni Dallas Hotel
Connected to the Dallas Convention Center, the Omni Dallas Hotel offers a luxurious, warm and sophisticated design which reflects the essence of Dallas with a contemporary, reflective glass exterior and native textures, art and other materials enriching the interior. Upon opening, guests and locals alike will have access to five culinary selections, including the celebrated Bob’s Steak & Chop House, The Owner’s Box and a farm-to-table restaurant, Texas Spice, for a casual dining experience, as well as retail space, lounges, a signature Mokara Spa, urban pool deck and more. In-room technology will include flat screen TVs as well as TV monitors embedded within the bathroom mirrors. The LEED Silver New Construction project includes utilization of recycled materials, irrigation supplied by recycled water, water-saving fixtures, guest room energy management systems and more. Connected via a skybridge to the Dallas Convention Center, the Omni Dallas Hotel will incorporate over 110,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space. Included among its 21 meeting rooms are the grand and junior ballrooms, encompassing 32,000 and 15,000 sq. ft. respectively. The hotel will comfortably accommodate groups of more than 3,300 attendees at any given time.

For more information about the Omni Dallas Hotel, please visit omnidallashotel.com or call 214-744-6664.

DALLAS (May 23, 2011) – Today Omni Hotels & Resorts announced it will open the Omni Dallas Hotel almost two months ahead of schedule, on November 11, 2011. The convention center hotel and luxury property will host a large veteran’s event in honor of the Veteran’s Day celebration immediately after the property’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Following the November 11 event, the first group sales client, Dallas-based Freeman will hold its national sales convention at the Omni Dallas Hotel November 13 through 15, where the company’s sales organization will go through two days of training, development and recognition meetings and seminars hosted by the Omni Dallas Hotel, Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Dallas Convention Center. The Freeman group has booked approximately 800 room nights. In addition to the meeting’s attendees, Freeman will bring several potential clients who are considering Dallas as their next destination to hold a citywide convention.
“We’ve seen significant demand and interest in the Omni Dallas Hotel from group, business and leisure travel, specifically for the latter part of 2011,” said Ed Netzhammer, regional vice president of Omni Hotels & Resorts. “Today is milestone for the City of Dallas and its wonderful citizens. Omni Hotels & Resorts is truly honored to be a part this monumental project.”
Upon opening, guests and locals alike will have access to five culinary selections, a signature Mokara Spa, urban pool deck and more. Connected via a skybridge to the Dallas Convention Center, the Omni Dallas Hotel will incorporate 21 meeting rooms which encompass 110,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space.
Owned by the City of Dallas, the hotel was endorsed by voters in May 2009 and backed by the sale of nearly $500 million in revenue bonds in August that same year. The property is located on eight acres in the heart of the nation’s eighth-largest city, which is experiencing a renaissance from more than $14 billion in new development underway in and near the urban core. Two acres of the site are slated for additional dining, retail and other venues which will enhance entertainment opportunities for those who visit, work or live downtown.
Individual travelers may book rooms at the Omni Dallas Hotel through omnihotels.com, via Facebook at facebook.com/omnihotels, or by calling 1-800-The-Omni. Follow Omni Hotels & Resorts at twitter.com/omnihotels or at twitter.com/omnihotelsPR.

About the Omni Dallas Hotel
Connected to the Dallas Convention Center, the Omni Dallas Hotel offers a luxurious, warm and sophisticated design which reflects the essence of Dallas with a contemporary, reflective glass exterior and native textures, art and other materials enriching the interior. Upon opening, guests and locals alike will have access to five culinary selections, including the celebrated Bob’s Steak & Chop House, The Owner’s Box and a farm-to-table restaurant, Texas Spice, for a casual dining experience, as well as retail space, lounges, a signature Mokara Spa, urban pool deck and more. In-room technology will include flat screen TVs as well as TV monitors embedded within the bathroom mirrors. The LEED Silver New Construction project includes utilization of recycled materials, irrigation supplied by recycled water, water-saving fixtures, guest room energy management systems and more. Connected via a skybridge to the Dallas Convention Center, the Omni Dallas Hotel will incorporate over 110,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space. Included among its 21 meeting rooms are the grand and junior ballrooms, encompassing 32,000 and 15,000 sq. ft. respectively. The hotel will comfortably accommodate groups of more than 3,300 attendees at any given time. For more information about the Omni Dallas Hotel, please visit omnidallashotel.com or call 214-744-6664.

About Matthews Southwest / Hotel Developer
Matthews Southwest (MSW) is a full-service private real estate development company headquartered in Lewisville, Texas with additional offices in Dallas, Texas; Calgary, Alberta; and Mississauga, Ontario. Since 1988, MSW has acquired, built and managed the development of hotel, office, mixed-use retail, residential, and industrial developments. We have developed projects in the United States, Canada and Mexico. From conception to completion, MSW brings together financial resources and experienced management to form profitable partnerships focused on creating projects of lasting excellence. MSW has built, or is in the process of developing, in excess of 8 million square feet of office, residential, hospitality and mixed use developments throughout North America. Projects currently under construction include the EnCana Corporate Headquarters in Calgary (The Bow is a two million sq. ft. office tower), the Omni Dallas Hotel and The Tribute, a master planned community on Lake Lewisville.

About Balfour / Russell / Pegasus with 5Gstudio collaborative and Boka Powell
Design Build Team
Balfour / Russell / Pegasus is a formal joint venture formed for the purpose of providing design-build services for the Dallas Convention Center Hotel project. This team represents a combination of large and small businesses with the appropriate qualifications and resources to provide management for the design and construction of a complex hospitality project like the Dallas Convention Center Hotel. For more information about the Balfour / Russell / Pegasus team members including Balfour Beatty Construction, H.J. Russell & Company, and Pegasus Texas Construction, LLP, please visit our individual websites: www.BalfourBeattyConstructionUS.com, www.HJRussell.com, http://pegasustexas.com. Design services for the Omni Dallas Hotel project are provided by the team of Design Architect 5Gstudio collaborative, and Architect of Record BOKA Powell. Interior design services provided by Vivian Nichols. For more information on the design team, please visit their individual websites: www.5gstudio.com, www.bokapowell.com, www.vivian-nichols.com. For more information about the design and construction of the Omni Dallas Hotel please go to: http://dallascchotel.com.

DALLAS (April xx, 2011) – The Omni Dallas Hotel, located in the heart of downtown Dallas, has outlined its sustainability plan which will lead to the property’s LEED Silver New Construction (NC) certification upon opening. The plan includes use of recycled and regionally-sourced materials, reduced construction pollution and water conservation initiatives.
“Earning the LEED Silver New Construction status will be a tremendous accomplishment – one made possible by the tremendous efforts of the City, Matthews Southwest, Balfour/Russell/Pegasus, 5Gstudio_collaborative, BOKA Powell, Vivian-Nichols Associates and every team member who has a hand in keeping the project focused on sustainability,” said Nils Stolzlechner, general manager of the Omni Dallas Hotel. “These efforts will continue upon the hotel’s opening to provide an eco-friendly environment for our associates, guests and the community.”
Scheduled to open early in 2012, the property has employed a recycling program for all construction waste. The Omni Dallas Hotel is also utilizing recycled and regional materials throughout the construction process. For example, the interior design for the hotel’s three-meal-a-day restaurant, Texas Spice, includes reclaimed timber and brick. Additionally, certified wood is being used for 50 percent of the wood-based material to encourage environmentally responsible forest management.
The hotel’s design will reduce the amount of storm water run-off with a 25,000-gallon cistern to capture water as a means of irrigation in lieu of city water, limiting the use of potable water and other resources. The northwest corner of the property will feature a rain garden designed to help with run-off. Furthermore, the water softener system is tied to the cooling tower – which helps the efficiency of the system – and will reduce water and chemical usage, both will have a positive environmental impact.
The hotel sits in an area with a significant public transportation infrastructure, thus inhibiting the number of car commuters and reducing pollution, and upon completion, the property will have numerous bike racks and onsite changing rooms. All of the 720 parking spaces provided will be covered, which limits the heat island effect.
Other sustainable efforts include:
• Roof materials feature solar reflective indexes to help with heat island effects.
• Systems for lighting and thermal control. Examples include guest rooms equipped with a key switching system where guests put the room key into a slot to turn on lights and have control of the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system. When removed, the HVAC system sets back to a preset temperature and the lights automatically shut off.
• The indoor air quality management plan will reduce Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) problems resulting from construction, and the team is using low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) products such as paints, adhesives and carpet systems.
The project is overseen by numerous LEED accredited professionals, ranging from the design-builders staff to various engineers and consultants. Balfour/Russell/Pegasus, the construction company responsible for the project, hired a LEED consultant to ensure the project is built to meet the credit requirements established by the US Green Building Council.

About the Omni Dallas Hotel
Scheduled to open in early 2012 connected to the Dallas Convention Center, the Omni Dallas Hotel offers a luxurious, warm and sophisticated design which reflects the essence of Dallas with a contemporary, reflective glass exterior and native textures, art and other materials enriching the interior. Upon opening, guests and locals alike will have access to five culinary selections, including the celebrated Bob’s Steak & Chop House, The Owner’s Box and a farm-to-table restaurant, Texas Spice, for a casual dining experience, as well as retail space, lounges, a signature Mokara Spa, urban pool deck and more. In-room technology will include flat screen TVs as well as TV monitors embedded within the bathroom mirrors. The LEED Silver New Construction project includes utilization of recycled materials, irrigation supplied by recycled water, water-saving fixtures, guest room energy management systems and more. Connected via a skybridge to the Dallas Convention Center, the Omni Dallas Hotel will incorporate over 110,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space. Included among its 21 meeting rooms are the grand and junior ballrooms, encompassing 32,000 and 15,000 sq. ft. respectively. The hotel will comfortably accommodate groups of more than 3,300 attendees at any given time. For more information about the Omni Dallas Hotel, please visit omnidallashotel.com or call 214-744-6664.

About Omni Hotels & Resorts / Hotel Operator
Omni Hotels & Resorts creates genuine, authentic guest experiences that take guests on “A Total Departure” to 50 distinct luxury hotels and resorts in leading business gateways and leisure destinations across North America. From exceptional golf and spa retreats to dynamic business settings, each Omni showcases the local flavor of the destination while featuring four-diamond services, signature restaurants, Wi-Fi connectivity and unique wellness options. Known for its award-winning, personalized service, Omni leaves a lasting impression with every customer interaction, with a heightened level of recognition and rewards delivered through its Select Guest loyalty program and the company’s “Power of One” associate empowerment program. The brand is frequently recognized by top consumer research organizations such as J.D. Power and Associates, which ranked Omni as “Highest in Guest Satisfaction Among Upscale Hotel Chains” in its 2010 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study(SM).

To get additional information or book accommodations, visit omnihotels.com or call 1-800-The-Omni.