Hotelier Completes $33M Rehab of Hilton Hartford

315 Trumbull Street Associates LLC is a partnership of affiliates consisting of the Waterford Group LLC of Waterford, CT; Slavik Inc.; Albemarle Hotel Associates Inc.; and developer Glenn A. Jette. Members of 315 Trumbull Street Associates also were involved in the rehabilitation of the city's landmark Richardson building, which was converted into a 120-unit Residence Inn by Marriott in 2000.

Len Wolman, chairman and chief executive officer of the Waterford Group, said, "The Hilton Hartford transformation provides a superior lodging option for travelers, while returning the hustle and bustle of a downtown gathering place to that section of the city. The transformation also supports Hartford's revitalization plan to redefine the city as a convention, group, business travel and leisure travel destination as well as a social gathering place."

The project involved the transformation of an outdated hotel into a luxury hotel that now features 392 guestrooms and suites, high-speed Internet access and a host of amenities. The facility also has a remodeled living room-style lobby, an Element 315 Lounge, swimming pool, fitness center, Morty & Ming's, a Chinese restaurant and 15,000 sf of meeting space.

Terry Bickhardt, president of the Waterford Hotel Group, said the hotel was closed in January 2004 and officially re-opened on Tuesday. 315 Trumbull Street Associates LLC acquired the property in March 2004 for a little more than $6 million.

The Waterford Group is also developing the 409-room Marriott Hartford Downtown, which is under construction and is scheduled to open by the summer. The $81-million Marriott Hartford Downtown will be connected to the $250-million Connecticut Convention Center, a 500,000-sf facility, which is also under construction and scheduled to be completed by June.