A roundup of independent hotel news

Former Buckhead Ritz goes to Luxury Collection
Owners Host Hotels & Resorts reopened the former Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead, as The Whitley on 1. December. The 507-room property now belongs to Marriott International’s Luxury Collection. As part of the rebranding, the hotel renovated its restaurant, bar and ballroom. Future renovations will include guestrooms and public spaces.
Boutiques welcome winter pop-ups
Winter sports and food-and-beverage specials are popping up at boutique and independent hotels all over. Some examples of hotels using winter to their advantage and launching short-term seasonal fun include:
The Gwen: This Chicago hotel, part of the Luxury Collection, opened a new outdoor iceless curling rink on its rooftop terrace. The rink is open daily, weather permitting, during the winter months, and guests also can choose drinks from the hotel’s menu of winter cocktails.
Envoy Hotel: This Boston hotel in the city’s Seaport neighborhood, launched a pop-up igloo bar at its Lookout rooftop bar. Six heated igloos seat eight to 10 people and are constructed from plastic. Guests can order seasonal cocktails by pressing a button in the igloo.
The Sanctuary Hotel: This Midtown Manhattan boutique hotel transforms its Haven rooftop bar into a ski chalet-themed pop-up. Inside the tented, heated space, guests can order seasonal cocktails, fondue and s’mores.
Origin minibrand expands
A new seven-story, 126-room Origin Hotel is in the works for development in Raleigh, North Carolina, The News & Observer reports, in the city’s One Glenwood project. The property is being developed by The Thrash Group, a Mississippi-based developer behind the Origin Hotel brand, which has four properties under development and none currently open.
The Raleigh hotel will be managed by Kentucky-based Schulte Hospitality Group, and is expected to open in spring 2019.