First Hospitality Group. Announces Development of Autograph Collection Hotel in Downtown Columbus
Adaptive reuse project will convert the historic LeVeque Tower building into a modern hotel
ROSEMONT, IL - July 21, 2014 - Rosemont, Illinois-based First Hospitality Group, Inc. (FHG) announced today that through a joint venture partnership with Robert J. Meyers and Don M. Castro, it will be converting the historic LeVeque Tower building in Columbus, Ohio, to an Autograph Collection hotel scheduled to open in early 2015. First Hospitality Group, Inc. President and COO Robert Habeeb made the announcement.
The 47-story, 155-guest room hotel will be FHG's first Autograph Collection property. A boutique Marriott brand, Autograph Collection hotels are each distinctively unique and known for quality, bold originality, rich character and uncommon details.
“The Columbus Autograph Collection is a very exciting addition to our ever-growing hotel management portfolio,” said Habeeb. “Not only is Columbus a great travel market, but this unique project affords us the opportunity to make an impact on the community by applying our adaptive reuse expertise to create a thriving future for this treasured piece of city history.”
The 555.5-foot, art deco LeVeque Tower, a Columbus icon, was the tallest building between New York and Chicago when it was constructed in 1927 (known then as the American Insurance Union), and remained the tallest building in Columbus until 1974 when the Rhodes State Office Tower was built.
FHG has completed several other adaptive reuse hotel conversion projects in the Midwest, including the Loyalty building in downtown Milwaukee, Wisc., now a Hilton Garden Inn; the Liberty Building in Des Moines, Iowa, now a Hyatt Pace; and the Federal Building in Omaha, Neb., now a Residence Inn by Marriott. FHG continues to manage all of these properties as a part of its 62-hotel national portfolio. Bob Meyers and Don Castro have partnered together on several other Columbus properties including the NiSource Building, 250 Civic Center and 200 Civic Center.
First Hospitality Group, Inc., is a national, experienced, and established hospitality management, and development company serving the investment and real estate industries. Since 1985, FHG has been an award-winning pioneer in the hospitality industry. FHG has successfully developed, marketed and managed over 16 brands and 62 properties throughout the Midwest. Visit www.fhginc.com.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
