Hotel Roanoke reveals $3.9M renovation plans

The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center, Curio Collection by Hilton, announced Monday its $3.9 million plans to renovate The Pine Room Pub and the Palm Court Lobby.

“The renovation will build upon the hotel’s premier four diamond status as a destination, dining and meeting facility in Virginia’s Blue Ridge and will create a new and exciting location for events and celebrations,” Brian Wells, general manager of The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center, said in a statement.

Roanoke-based general contractor and commercial construction Lionberger Construction bid on the project earlier this year and were awarded the project in early March, Barbara Dooley, Lionberger project manager said. 

Lionberger will renovate the 4,000-square foot space by installing a 40-seat lobby bar, a culinary bar, an open kitchen and an outdoor patio and event space.

“They’ve never had that at the Pine Room before, where you can walk out and have outdoor seating, so that’s going to be a nice addition,” Dooley said.

The Pine Room Pub will be closed for the next five months during the interior and exterior renovations. Lionberger is currently in the demolition phase of the project. 

The renovations also include recreating one of the murals that has been in the hotel since the 1800s, Dooley said. A North Carolina artist has been contracted for that part of the project, she added.

During renovations, hotel patrons can instead visit The Regency Overlook for food and beverages. 

“The investment by ownership of The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center demonstrates their longstanding commitment to the hotel and our community,” Wells said in a statement. “We are excited to share more details of the future space, including concepts, themes and menus, in the coming months.”

The project is expected to be completed by September.

The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center has 330 rooms and a 63,000-square-foot conference center. In 2020, it was ranked No. 18 on the U.S. News & World Reports’ Top 25 Best Hotels in Virginia.