Hilton Hotels & Resorts Returns to the Heart of Birmingham

DoubleTree by Hilton Birmingham transforms into Hilton Birmingham at UAB

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Hilton Birmingham at UAB, The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s flagship hotel on campus, has completed its multi-million dollar renovation, officially converting from a DoubleTree by Hilton property to a Hilton Hotels & Resorts hotel.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Birmingham was purchased by the UAB Educational Foundation in November of 2016. The hotel’s renovations began in March 2018, with a comprehensive design and refurbishment plan culminating in a top-to-bottom transformation of the hotel.

“The transformation has been extraordinary,” said Lisa Castagna, general manager, Hilton Birmingham at UAB. “It’s been a strategic, collaborative effort between Hilton and UAB to create this flagship Hilton property in the heart of the college campus. From the lighting fixtures above to the flooring below—and everything in between, this renovation has been marked by acute attention to detail. Our associates are proud to welcome the Birmingham community, new and returning guests to the new Hilton hotel. We have also added two distinctive restaurants to match the hospitality and level of service associated with the Hilton brand. The restaurants provide compelling—and delicious—reasons for locals to visit, as well.”

Key highlights of the newly-renovated hotel, include:

Upgraded Common Areas

The hotel’s lobby features new, original artwork, updated seating, tables, lighting and a sundries shop. A new Connectivity Station was also added, consisting of convenient, complimentary workstations equipped with Wi-Fi enabled computers, printers and ergonomic seating. Guest corridors and public areas were also upgraded with new wall coverings, detailed crown moulding and refinished guest room entry doors.

New Guest Rooms

The renovation has been conducted with subtle details that invite guests to enjoy the history of Birmingham and UAB while enjoying the latest in technology and comfort. Special attention was paid to work areas in the guest rooms and suites to include multiple USB charging ports and custom stone desks. All guest bathroom areas also underwent renovations to feature a new, modern design. The new look also pays tribute to the hotel’s environmental programs by offering entirely LED-lit rooms and suites. Custom guest room carpets and public areas carpets finish out the upscale look and feel.

Completed in phases throughout 2018, the renovation included upgrading the hotel suites with more luxurious and contemporary furnishing and enhancing the Executive room categories. Each of the 295 modern guest rooms offer floor-to-ceiling windows, King or two Queen beds, mini-refrigerators and safes.

The hotel’s top floor features guest rooms with full balconies and unbeatable views of Birmingham’s downtown skyline and UAB campus. Exceptional corner King rooms have expanded working and living spaces with sweeping views of downtown.

Executive Lounge

The Executive Lounge on the lobby level has also been refurbished with floor to ceiling windows that offer a stunning and an expansive view of the redesigned pool terrace and cityscape, creating a cozy area for both leisure and business guests to relax when staying on the Executive floors and in suites. 

The Executive Lounge offers a daily breakfast and a choice selection of alcoholic beverages, hot and cold drinks throughout the day. All Executive Room, Premium Executive Room and Suite Room guests, as well as Hilton Honors Diamond and Gold members, are invited to visit the Executive Lounge to enjoy these special services.

New Dining

Two dining options have been introduced with the hotel’s conversion. The Lab Bar and Kitchen, now open on the hotel’s ground floor, is a Southern-inspired, locally sourced bar and kitchen that complements Birmingham’s thriving culinary scenes. Accessed via an entrance at the corner of University and 20th Street South, as well as directly through the hotel, The Lab Bar and Kitchen is purpose-built to serve the community and UAB’s campus as well as hotel guests. At the center of the action is a 27-seat rectangular bar that serves a variety of local craft beers, specialty cocktails and a full menu. Featuring large fire pits and open patio seating, The Lab Bar and Kitchen is the vibrant spot where travelers can kick back, relax and cheers with locals. Helmed by Chef Matthew Comarato, the restaurant showcases its Southern roots through locally sourced ingredients prepared with a modern twist.

The second restaurant is a quick-serve cafe located next door to the Bar. The Lab Market Café, scheduled to open in January 2019, serves customers on the go, with seasonal, locally-sourced pastries and prepared foods. Made to order meals, gourmet salads and sandwiches will also be available, along with Hilton breakfast service and offerings at “Blaze” Coffee Bar. 

Introduction of Fresh Connection

The Fresh Connection concept is a new takeout and delivery service that was created specifically to cater to guests, who are increasingly looking for greater convenience, value and variety. Guests who opt for in-room delivery will be greeted by a Fresh Connection runner, who will deliver their order to their door, take-out style. Guests can order favorites from the menu and savor some of the best flavors of Birmingham. Those who want to save the delivery fee and gratuity can opt for pickup in the Lab Market Café.

Transformed Conference Facilities

A grand spiral staircase leads from the hotel lobby to two ballrooms and meeting rooms of a variety of sizes. Hilton Birmingham at UAB boasts 17,000 square feet of high-tech meeting and event space. With a full in-house events team including event management, sales and in-house audio-visual services, by PSAV, the hotel is well equipped to host galas, weddings, conferences, reunions and events of all sizes.

“We took the opportunity with the transformation to honor some notable UAB graduates who made significant achievements and broke barriers,” said Castagna. “The ballrooms and a large meeting space are named for early female and African American graduates of the medical program.”

Hamilton Ballroom: 

• In 1946, Virginia Dare Hamilton was the only female in the Medical College of Alabama (precursor to the UAB School of Medicine), and became the first woman to receive the MD degree from the program.
• In July 1968, Dr. Herschell Lee Hamilton received a clinical appointment in the Department of Surgery and became the first African American board-certified general surgeon at University Hospital.

Skipwith Ballroom: 

• In March 1969, Delois Skipwith became the first African American faculty member in the School of Nursing and the first tenure-track African American faculty member at UAB.

Montgomery Room:

• In September 1923, Jimmie Ethel Montgomery entered the medical school in Tuscaloosa as the school’s first full-time female student. In May 1925, she received a B.S. degree in Medicine from The University of Alabama, becoming the first female to graduate from the medical school.

“The renovation features a completely redesigned guest room and public area experience,” said Jodie Mote, UAB Education Foundation. “When our visitors choose to stay with us, be it for business or pleasure, with their partner or their family, we want them to be inspired by their surroundings while enjoying all the services the hotel has to offer.”

Hilton Birmingham at UAB is also part of Hilton Honors®, the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton’s 15 distinct hotel brands. Members who book directly have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount that can’t be found anywhere else and free standard Wi-Fi. Members also enjoy popular digital tools available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton Honors mobile app, where Hilton Honors members can check-in and choose their room. The hotel is also part of Hilton’s Travel with Purpose corporate responsibility strategy, which fosters sustainable travel and tourism globally.

To mark the hotel’s opening, Hilton Honors members who book at Hilton Birmingham at UAB between January 7, 2019 and June 14, 2019 will earn 1,000 Bonus Hilton Honors Points per night.

For hotel reservations, visit (http://birminghamatuab.hilton.com/) or call 205-933-9000.

For more information on Hilton Birmingham at UAB, media are encouraged to visit newsroom.hilton.com/hhr.

Find The Lab Bar and Kitchen online at www.LabBarandKitchen.com, on Facebook: @TheLabBarandKitchen and on Instagram: @TheLabBarandKitchen. Join in the conversation with Hilton Birmingham UAB on Facebook: @HiltonBirminghamUAB, Instagram: @HiltonBirminghamUAB and Twitter: @HiltonBham.

About UAB

Known for its innovative and interdisciplinary approach to education at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, the University of Alabama at Birmingham is an internationally renowned research university and academic medical center, as well as Alabama’s largest employer, with some 23,000 employees, and has an annual economic impact exceeding $7 billion on the state. The pillars of UAB’s mission include education, research, innovation and economic development, community engagement and patient care. Learn more at http://www.uab.edu/. UAB: Knowledge that will change your world.

About the UAB Educational Foundation

The UAB Educational Foundation exists to support the University of Alabama at Birmingham in its scientific and educational mission. This support includes managing and disbursing funds, acquiring property, and providing general operational flexibility for the benefit of the university. Learn more at www.uab.edu/educationalfoundation.

About Pyramid Hotel Group

Pyramid Hotel Group is a privately held, Boston-based hotel company along with its affiliate Winegardner & Hammons Hotel Group based Cincinnati OH have over 100 hotels and resorts under hotel management and asset management, comprising more than 22,000-plus rooms and over 10,000 employees.  Pyramid Hotel Group, ranked among the largest U.S. hotel management companies by independent sources, provides hotel management, asset management and project management services to a broad array of hotel assets ranging from a 90-room select-service hotel to world-class properties with more than 800 rooms. Pyramid Hotel Group is a franchisee of all major hotel brand companies and an operator of independent four- and five-star hotels and resorts.  Additional information is available at www.pyramidhotelgroup.com.

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