Sotherly Hotels Inc. announced today the addition of Hotel Ballast, formerly the Hilton Wilmington Riverside, to its collection of boutique properties following an extensive renovation, conversion, and relaunch effort.
“We are excited to complete this conversion and to launch Hotel Ballast as the premiere boutique hotel in Eastern North Carolina,” said Drew Sims, Chief Executive Officer of the Company. “With its ideal location along Historic Downtown Wilmington’s waterfront, the property has been a landmark hotel in the market for nearly 50 years and a stalwart in our legacy portfolio for the past 30 years. We believe this reimaging to Hotel Ballast will position the hotel for success for many years to come.”
Hotel Ballast is the latest addition to Sotherly Hotels’ collection of boutique hotels centered on providing local experiences and true Southern hospitality to guests throughout the Southern United States. The Hotel recently completed a $10.0 million renovation effort that includes a total refresh of all areas of the property, including upgrades to all 272 of the hotel’s guestrooms, as well as lobby, pool area, meeting space, restaurants, and other public areas. Hotel Ballast’s all-new guestrooms include hardwood floors, remote shades, elevated bedding packages, and spa-like baths with marble walk-in showers and eco-friendly amenities, while boasting impressive water and downtown views.
Public space design highlights include the addition of a communal library area, an art gallery featuring original work by students and alumni of the Savannah College of Art & Design, and refreshed meeting and event facilities, complete with new chef-inspired banquet menus and modernized audio-visual equipment. Guest amenity improvements include a revamped in-room dining program, a state-of-the-art fitness facility, an all-new bridal suite, and complimentary Wi-Fi. Located on the lobby level, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse provides guests a go-to option for USDA Prime steaks and an award-winning wine list in a scenic setting. Additionally, the Hotel Ballast lobby features Buffalo Bayou Coffee, a gourmet-to-go café serving locally ground coffees and house made light fare.
Another notable aspect of the renovation and rebranding effort includes the addition of Board and Barrel Coastal Kitchen, an all-new restaurant that features comfortable outdoor dining and seasonal live music acts directly overlooking the Cape Fear River. Board and Barrel’s chef-driven menu offers guests inspired cuisine with a unique take on Southern flavors and dishes that feature ingredients from local purveyors, while its beverage program offers creative barrel-aged cocktails and local brews.
A landmark in historic downtown Wilmington for nearly 50 years, Hotel Ballast first opened as an inn in 1970, playing a vital role in downtown’s major revitalization efforts. The hotel’s name honors the maritime history of Wilmington and draws upon its riverfront location on the Cape Fear River. Over the years, the property has hosted numerous celebrity guests including Wayne Newton, Richard Gere, Bob Hope, Jerry Lewis, Stephen King, Emilio Estevez, Andy Griffith, and Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.
As one of the first member properties of Hilton’s boutique Tapestry Collection, Hotel Ballast provides guests with a uniquely local experience and an ideal waterfront location with unobstructed views of the USS North Carolina Battleship as well as access to the Riverwalk, a full mile of boardwalk that boasts some of Wilmington’s best shopping and dining.
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