Four Downtown Raleigh Hotels Unlocking DTR As a Destination

by Melissa Howsam | Oct 1, 2024 | Buzz, October 2024

At a time when new Raleigh commercial developments have all but stalled—a handful of hotels serve as a harbinger for Downtown as a tourist destination.

If you didn’t think Raleigh was a tourism town—think again. And answering the call to host, a bevy of boutique and unique elevated hotels are set to unfold some 500+ rooms, plus rooftops and hospitality concepts, in DTR—transforming Downtown into a dynamic destination where locals and tourists can gather and connect.

Starting this month, this new cast of high-end hotels will further cement Raleigh’s ascending rank as a top U.S. destination for tourists, business travelers and locals alike. And just in time, as DTR saw 3.8 million unique visitors from July 2023 to June 2024 alone, with this June surpassing the most visitors in a single month since prepandemic. Not just a colossal stat—it’s also a huge boon for the Cap City as a whole.  

“The more visitors we have Downtown, the greater the vitality of the area,” maintains Visit Raleigh President and CEO Dennis Edwards. “More visitors to Downtown will drive additional activity to retail establishments, restaurants, bars and attractions.” Not to mention it attracts events, conventions, activities and developers—also a draw for Raleighites—to fill out an already long list of offerings.

According to Edwards, the three primary factors that drive business and activity Downtown are residents, workforce and tourism. And DTR tourism is clearly having a moment (think 410 hotel rooms under construction and another 1,590 in development). At a time when no commercial developments broke ground in 2024, it’s the wave of hotels that is solidifying Raleigh’s attractiveness and rise in the ranks as a place people want to visit—and live.  

Serving as that driver are at least five new hotel projects coming down the pipeline—Tempo, Hyatt House, Omni, a Blount Street boutique hotel, and a 16-story proposed hotel between South McDowell and South Salisbury streets. And these highly anticipated concepts aren’t just delivering a handful of mediocre beds and a less-than-ideal breakfast buffet—but unique elevated experiences catering to both guests and Raleigh residents.

“These new hotels will add to [the city’s] impressive numbers,” emphasizes Edwards. “The success we’re experiencing not only boosts our local economy, but also strengthens our businesses and supports essential community initiatives. We are already seeing more interest from private developers to build additional hotels and open new restaurants and bars, which will only enhance our offerings.”

So, while some say Downtown has hit a stalemate with development, it’s more like the calm before the storm—in a good way.

“I hear these people dismissing Downtown like it’s kind of done, and that’s such a wrong statement to me because you can never get the feeling of a Downtown anywhere else,” says local developer, architect and Clockwork bar owner Souheil Al-awar, who’s adding a boutique hotel to his résumé already touting The Saint townhomes.

The future of tourism is very bright in Raleigh and Wake County.” 
– Visit Raleigh President and CEO Dennis Edwards

Boutique Blount Street Hotel

BOUTIQUE & UNIQUE

Bookending DTR opposite Michelin-recognized The Longleaf Hotel on the northern end, a new boutique hotel emerges at the hands of Raleigh hospitality titan Souheil Al-awar of Clockwork and The Saint townhomes fame. 

The food & beverage, architecture and design mastermind behind these “very Raleigh” concepts is embarking on his next chapter by adding his unique vision to a historic pocket of DTR. “I really want to do something very specific and very Raleigh at the same time,” says Al-awar—“make a splash, make it a destination.”  

A long time in the making, Raleigh City Council approved the hotel rezoning at 423 S. Blount St. (now a parking lot) in late August for roughly seven stories, requiring the first three to match the adjacent Prince Hall Masonic Lodge in height—and three-quarters of its nonglass facade to be red brick a la the guise of the historic hall. 

This boutique birth no doubt promises to catapult this area of Downtown into a new era, much like The Longleaf did for its northern DTR counterpart—and perhaps bring Michelin calling once again. Likewise an ode to what makes Raleigh, Raleigh—and retaining her storied history sans skyscraper status—the hotel will nod to approaches in such distinctive Downtowns as the Holy City. “I stayed in Charleston not too long ago and their approach is really good,” muses Al-awar. 

Beyond the facade, “I want to give it an interior and a feel that is really original,” he says. “A lot of hotels are becoming very generic—if you’ve been to one, you’ve been to many. So you have to also give it that feel of hominess—like you’re home when you get there.”

Serving ~90 boutique rooms once it bows late 2026 to early 2027, the project could break ground as early as this summer, complete with a pair of local-leaning concepts via a ground-floor restaurant and rooftop restaurant and bar. 

There’s the element of restaurants and bars and nightlife I’d like to bring back to that part of town,” says the magnate, who’s been in the local nightlife business now for 18 years, even prior to Clockwork. “I want to lure people to come into Raleigh—and [hospitality] would be very important for that. I think Downtown will definitely come back and will come back strong. And I really want to be there for it when it happens.” Time to check back in, Raleigh.

Omni Raleigh Hotel

ENERGIZING & TRANSFORMATIVE

A good hotel fulfills the needs of overnight guests, but a great hotel bridges gaps in local aspirations. And that’s exactly what the Omni Raleigh Hotel is aiming to achieve ahead of its slated 2028 opening. Adding a dynamic—and transformative—addition to the DTR skyline from its Fayetteville Street perch across from Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts and the Raleigh Convention Center, the first-to-market elevated Omni is partnering with the latter to cater specifically to the growing market of event attendees.

“We think of our hotels as being the living room of the community,” says Brian Zelman, VP of acquisitions and development at Omni Hotels. “As people are going to an event at the performing arts center, how would they progress through the hotel? We want to curate that experience and blend it with the existing landscape.” 

And Omni Hotels is indeed curating an experience for guests and locals alike, with a swanky lobby bar, all-day cafe and market, and a Bob’s Steak & Chop House—NTM a rooftop pool upfitted with a spa and sauna and complete with poolside F&B service. 

As far as who those other tenants will be, “we always like to go with local flair and authenticity and local cuisine,” says Zelman. “[We] understand that Raleigh is a culinary haven, and we certainly want to leverage the talent uniquely—but also complement what’s in the market.” 

Answering the local call for a new Downtown destination—and serving Raleigh’s hungry sports fans—Omni also aspires to activate Fayetteville Street as a drinking destination with a sports bar. “As we are thinking about where restaurants go within the [hotel] footprint, we are being mindful of where people are going out,” emphasizes Zelman. “We are counting on the local community to [come and] enjoy the hotel.”

That said, the hotel’s 550 guest rooms will cater to visitors and locals from all walks of life, with standard guest rooms, elevated suites, and presidential suites upfitted with walk-in closets and double vanities. Unique accouterments will lean more pool tables than uncomfortable hard couches. Meanwhile, the vibe of the lobby interior is set to draw local inspiration from the City of, ahem, Oaks. 

“We feel like Raleigh is a sleeping giant of a city,” emphasizes Zelman. “You can see it with the growth in businesses and population. The city has all the attributes of a really dynamic city, and we’re encouraged by the trajectory. … It’s an incredible market for a lot of reasons.” omnihotels.com

Rendering courtesy of Brian Zelman

Homewood Suites and Tempo by Hilton DTR

UPLIFTING & URBAN

One of the major draws of this incoming class of hotels is they aren’t just for visitors—but for Raleigh residents as well. And that ideal is at the core of Tempo and its open-to-the-public rooftop restaurant/bar Urban Oak, both of which are slated to open at the beginning of November.

“We definitely view it as for the community, for Raleigh,” emphasizes Dual General Manager Robert Ambersley. “This is not just for our hotel guests to hop on the elevator and grab a drink. We see it as a destination.”

The brand chose Raleigh for its first Tempo by Hilton in North Carolina—not to mention second of its kind to open in the country and only the fourth Tempo in the world—due to the city’s impressive list of accolades in recent years, not least of which is our ranking as the No. 2 Best City to Live in America. 

“We couldn’t have chosen a better city than Raleigh for the brand’s second locale,” maintains Seraj Patel, VP of CN Hotels, which owns the property. “We are excited to add to the city’s growth and build on that reputation by bringing a new, stylish and contemporary lifestyle hotel to the Downtown area.”

And Tempo is indeed bringing a new class of hotel to DTR, what with wellness suites feat. in-room Pelotons and other upgraded room features like power-up/power-down zones; valet parking; local art throughout; a state-of-the-art fitness center; and yet another F&B concept, Moonsong Cafe, which will be open to the public all day with the likes of coffee, breakfast items and cocktails.  

Photography by Juli Wade

Elevating Tempo and its appeal even more is Urban Oak, now touting the title of Raleigh’s tallest rooftop destination and offering guests and locals alike a sophisticated space to enjoy cocktails, gourmet tapas and DJs—while tapping into DTR’s yearning for an elevated experience, according to Patel.

“We feel we’ve been received by Visit Raleigh and the Downtown hotels as a new partner that’s going to grow the area and enhance their hotels,” says Ambersley, with McKibbon Hospitality Dual Director of Sales Laureen Cooney adding: “It’s important we recognize there’s room for growth and things have changed. We’re excited to be part of that.” hilton.com

Hyatt House Seaboard Station

NOSTALGIC & PROGRESSIVE

Delivering a blast from the past while easing Raleigh into its future is Downtown Raleigh’s first Hyatt House. The visionary project by Hoffman & Associates and Concord Hospitality joins the ever-growing lineup at Seaboard Station, already poised to be a mini-gateway to Downtown from Capital Boulevard, also connecting Smoky Hollow to the Person Street area. 

Designed with living in mind, the Hyatt House team anticipates its apartment-like rooms—some even equipped with full kitchen and separate living area—for extended stays, say when a Raleighite needs a place to crash for a couple weeks before their lease starts or parents move their kids into NC State or Peace U. 

But whether prolonged or swift sojourn—or just proximal play—entertainment ops abound, from the pool bar opening onto a leisurely pool deck (also shared with adjacent apartment The Point) to the indoor open-to-the-public bar pouring Tiki-style cocktails, frozen drinks, RTD bevs, and serving a simple food menu (think sandwiches, wraps and tacos) that will really scratch the itch for lunch. Not to mention the ample meeting and event spaces that will play host to watch parties and the like. 

Also open to the public is highly anticipated rooftop bar-with-food High Rail, the name a nod to the historic rail yard the building is situated on. “We’re excited to be part of Seaboard Station, honoring the rich history around us while offering a unique perspective with exceptional views from the north end of Downtown,” emphasizes Food & Beverage Director Jeremy Powers. 

Powers also calls out the before-unseen vistas—from Village District to even the Western Boulevard cathedral—the fresh perspective serves as “one of the first places with exceptional views from the north end of Downtown.” Best enjoyed from the rooftop patio perched by the rail, natch, or from the two interior bars, complete with an accordion door and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Adding to the allure are seven high-end cocktails and 15 wines by the glass, including Veuve Clicquot, with a reserve list of top-notch bottles to boot—plus fare by head chef Henry Ramos at the ready when hunger strikes. Think main-style dishes like pesto rigatoni and steak frites, “quirky hybrid things” like the Hot Now Chicken made with a Kristy Kreme doughnut pressed into a waffle and topped with fried chicken and hot honey, plus myriad handhelds, dips and bowls (olive, pickles, nuts) that will move through the room. 

But the elevated spot is more than just a brand-new vantage point for Raleighites and out-of-towners to relish in the sights and sounds of the city—it’s an ode to Raleigh as well. “I’m doing all my favorite things that other places in town used to do,” says Powers, who is also the president of the Raleigh-Durham Chapter of the U.S. Bartenders Guild, and has spent several years working in the local bar and restaurant industry via stints at spots like C. Grace and The Blind Barbour. 

Think weekly live jazz feat. Powers’ Rolodex of former C. Grace musicians, tap takeovers and, eventually, Sunday late-day brunch for that 1–6pm crowd (hey, Sunday Funday!) with build-your-own mimosa flights a la recently closed Plates Neighborhood Kitchen. 

People either want really great or they want to stay home and save some money,” says Powers. “So we want to be a place that knocks people’s socks off. Our goal is to try to get you to gasp at least three to four times.”

So while Raleigh already touts great food, cocktails, wine, hospitality and rooftop views, “it’s rare to find all of these in one spot,” maintains Powers. Now, enter that one-stop mecca for it all. hyatt.com