L-R: General Manager Rita Healy, Builder Jeff Novak, Hines Property Andy Heard, North America Sheraton Bob Jenkins, Mayor Dale Ross, Sr VP of Sheraton West Operations Carla Murray, Rachel Arnold for Commissioner Valerie Covey, Jonas Miller Chief of Staff for Congressman John Carter.
Sheraton Georgetown General Manager Rita Healey
Builder Jeff Novak, Novak Brothers
The long- and much-anticipated Sheraton ribbon cutting finally arrived July 28. In addition to providing a beautiful and modern event space, and views you can’t get anywhere else in Georgetown, it promises to be a draw for local gatherings and networking. Visitors, local and out-of-town, will quickly understand and enjoy the Sheraton policy, “We always say ‘yes’.”
Among many high-profile speakers, Mayor Dale Ross said at the ribbon cutting, “There is no doubt this is a historic project that will have a significant, positive impact for our city now and in the future. The Sheraton Georgetown Texas Hotel will allow us to introduce the Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas, our park system, and other places that make our city unique to visitors outside our region. This project is positioned for the highest level of success, and we couldn’t be more excited to have this first-class facility located in Georgetown.”
General Manager Rita Healy reports her staff of over 150 associates, most hired locally, is ready and eager to accommodate guests who will enjoy many amenities.
Miss Georgetown Claire Lindemann at the ribbon reception visiting with Chet “Daytripper” Garner. Garner was invited and honored to be the first official Sheraton Georgetown guest.
When you are ready to book your relatives, friends, or a weekend getaway, the hotel offers 222 guest accommodations including 11 suites with a separate parlor, and five that can convert into three-bedroom suites. As well, six suites provide a park view and beautiful views all the way to the Square or Southwestern University.
There is a fitness center open 24 hours, and the swimming pool on the patio overlooks Rivery Park and is open 7am-10pm.
The hotel has 30,000 square feet of event space, including pre-function areas for coffee or cocktail hour and 30 meeting rooms. The ballroom alone is 16,000 square feet and can be divided into ten smaller areas. “This is great for Georgetown,” Marketing Director Lorena Chappell says, “We have already booked galas and events that otherwise would have been in Austin or elsewhere out of town.”
There are also plenty of choices for locals who want an evening out. Jack’s Lounge, a full bar in the lobby was named for builder Jeff Novak’s brother Jack, whom he emotionally acknowledged at the ceremony for all his contributions to the hotel.
Downstairs is Brix and Ale restaurant. (Brix is the industry term for the sugar content in wine.) They serve eight local drafts and 12 local wines, all on tap.
Outside the hotel, Healy says Sheraton is looking at providing a van service in the future, for guests and locals to get to and from the hotel and downtown. The Sheraton also promises to be a good neighbor. “Being part of the community is what Starwood is all about,” Healy says. “We have a global citizenship committee and we are already looking at ways to give back to the community. Aside from things like roadside cleanup or supporting local non-profits, we also have so many opportunities to use our skills. We will support auctions and donations; we’re already finding ways for our associates to be out in the community and give back.”
Win for Georgetown
City Tourism Manager Cari Miller explains “Hotel/occupancy tax will mean a lot of revenue for Georgetown. In Texas, the hotel tax is 13 percent; 7 percent comes back to the city and, by law, that money must be spent to promote tourism, which brings more visitors and more revenue and so on.” As well, the Sheraton will host conferences and expos, and those attendees will shop, dine and spend all over Georgetown. “It’s going to be a win-win for us. We can keep local money local and we will have more money available to attract new visitors.”
City Manager David Morgan projects the hotel tax will mean $330,000 in new revenue for the next fiscal year. The Sheraton also demonstrates continued strength of Georgetown’s growth in general, and specifically retail and hospitality markets.
Morgan adds “This is a game-changer for Georgetown to have our first full-service hotel; it creates a whole new element for us as a destination city.”
More to Come
Jeff Novak, the man behind the new Sheraton is not done yet. Construction is nearly complete on the retail and corporate space adjacent to the new hotel and will be open for business by the end of the calendar year. “We will introduce many lifestyle products and services,” Novak says. “We are upping the ante and were very selective in our choices; we had many opportunities and turned them down because we don’t want to provide strip center services in this space. There were some great providers, but everything about the Sheraton will be upscale.” Among the new businesses will be a full-service Woodhouse Spa; The Bake Shop, based in Brooklyn, NY; and BB’s Restaurant will relocate to the Rivery from the Wildwood area by January.
Novak Brothers’ Phase I center includes a total of 75,000 sq/ft, with 20,000 sq/ft reserved for offices. There is still 10,000 sq/ft of office space and one restaurant pad available, as well as space for upscale boutiques or retail. He is currently in the staging process for Phase II, which will include 200,000 sq/ft. Phase II, he estimates, is about 18 months away, and he also announced the company’s next major project—another grand hotel and conference center in nearby Marble Falls.
