CHARLOTTE-Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. reports it plans to open two hotels—the Sheraton Charlotte Hotel and Le Méridien Charlotte—as part of a $20-million renovation and conversion project at The Blake Hotel complex here.

The twin tower property at 555 South McDowell St. is owned by Carolina Hospitality and managed by Wischermann Partners. Starwood states that the Sheraton Charlotte Hotel will open on Aug. 15 in one tower building. The other hotel tower will operate as an independent hotel through its renovation and will re-open as Le Méridien Charlotte in January 2014.

"This strategic conversion project gives Starwood the opportunity to both debut Le Méridien and expand the Sheraton portfolio in Charlotte, the second largest banking center in the United States after New York City," states Allison Reid, senior vice president of North American development for Starwood. "The opening of Sheraton Charlotte Hotel will accelerate the Sheraton brand's global $8-billion expansion effort, while Le Méridien Charlotte will provide even more momentum to the global brand's portfolio growth across North America."

The Sheraton Charlotte Hotel and the Le Méridien Charlotte will each have its own porte-cochere, entrance and lobby and will share a 24-hour fitness center, spa, indoor and outdoor pools and pool bar, underground parking, and 55,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. There will be a total of six restaurants between the two towers following the opening of both hotels, including a lobby bar and full-service restaurant in the Sheraton tower, and Le Méridien's Hub and Latitude Bar.