Vintage Is New Again
By Wine Press Staff
On April 16, Kimpton’s Hotel Vintage Plaza unveiled a new look and feel that offers guests a fresh taste of Oregon terroir in the heart of Portland. The landmark Kimpton hotel underwent a multi-million dollar renovation, recreating its unique wine-centric experience in downtown and revitalizing its commitment to Oregon’s tourism industry.
A modern 117-room boutique hotel in a historic brick building, the Hotel Vintage Plaza exudes the warmth of a charming European inn—a place where comfort and service prevail. The contemporary sleek design is tempered by natural elements from the Pacific Northwest and interwoven through a vineyard-inspired theme. This blend of Old World hospitality and New World luxury results in a spa-like retreat for urban adventurers.
“We’ve worked to set a standard of quality over the last 18 years,” said General Manager Jeri Riggs of the Hotel Vintage Plaza, which was recently selected as one of Travel + Leisure’s ‘Top 10 Hotels for $250 or Less’ worldwide. “With the future in mind, we opted to fully revitalize the hotel rather than just renovate it. We’ve even constructed ten new rooms to add to our already-eclectic mix of room styles.”
Kimpton’s Hotel Vintage Plaza is known for its variety of unique suites, including favorites such as the Starlight Rooms with solarium windows and Garden Spa Rooms with private outdoor hot tubs.
The new design theme visually illustrates the Hotel Vintage Plaza’s commitment to Oregon’s wine industry. To lead the interior remodel, Kimpton hired Susan Caruso of the Marina del Ray, Calif.-based hospitality design firm Intra-Spec, and Sienna Architecture based in Portland. Caruso drew inspiration from Portland’s organic beauty and the lush neighboring vineyards, conceptualizing a design theme linked to elements found in the Northwest. Caruso’s vision is artfully and eclectically executed throughout public areas and guest rooms of the 10-story registered historic building.
The warm, earth-toned lobby greets guests and comes to life with the organic colors and textures of the outdoors. Dark wood, creamy leathers, sheer Roman shades and pewter accents mix with cream- and cocoa-tone wall coverings inspired by tree bark, creating a natural interplay between urban Portland and the Willamette Valley wine country. And from décor to decant, local wines are poured here, in the lobby, every evening, from 5 to 6 p.m.
Each of the guest rooms comes with its own personality, each named after celebrated Oregon wineries, telling a story of its own. At the April unveiling, new rooms like “Capitello” and “Apolloni” were officially added to a roster that already included wineries like “Van Duzer,” “Henry Estate” and “Willamette Valley Vineyards.” Many rooms house a piece of art or some special element that ties to its namesake winery.
The rooms energize and soothe with a high-contrast color palette—white crown molding and trim pops from ivory walls above handsome espresso and caramel toned geometric carpet. Large-scale persimmon leather headboards with bronze nail heads impact the space, along with the contemporary and sophisticated dark framed art pieces of local landmarks and scenery. Deep chocolate finishes, and dramatic palettes of cream, persimmon and olive, carry through the space in the sumptuous fabrics, bedding and elegant drapery.
Hotel Vintage Plaza has carved out a niche in the Portland hospitality industry by winning top honors and consecutive awards in publications like Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler, as well as the 2009 AAA Four-Diamond Award.
Kimpton’s Mind.Body.Spa program is customary in all rooms at the hotel and includes an On-Demand television channel devoted to yoga, meditation, Pilates and core strengthening, as well as a wellness basket complete with yoga mat, block and strap for use during the stay (available upon request free of charge). In-room spa options such as massages, facials, manicures and pedicures also are available.
The Hotel Vintage Plaza is located at 422 S.W. Broadway, Portland. For more information, call 503-228-1212 or visit www.vintageplaza.com .
Hotel Vintage Plaza
Location: 422 S.W. Broadway • Portland
Reservations: 800-263-2305
Information: 503-228-3598 • www.vintageplaza.com