Hotels in Houston, Texas
The Bolder Side of
Houston Hospitality
Experience the art of Southern hospitality at The Whitehall Houston. Every detail is a testament to our storied luxury, from the Sotherly curated playlist to the on-site Savannah College of Art and Design gallery. Esteemed guests, including President Obama, Bob Dylan, and Elvis Presley, have found relaxation on our property, solidifying our status as one of the most historic hotels in Houston, Texas.
Renowned architectural firm Welton Becket and Associates completed their work on “The Whitehall,” which quickly became one the most recognizable structures in Houston’s Central Business District. Becket had designed the hotel alongside his colleague, Walter Wurdeman, who both used their unique approach to mid-century modern architecture as the source of the inspiration.
Elvis Presley decided to stay at The Whitehall right before his concert at the Houston Rodeo. But Presley was just one of several high-profile celebrities to visit the hotel around the time. Among the other major entertainers to relax inside The Whitehall included the likes of Bob Dylan, Graham Nash, and the popular husband-wife duo, Sonny & Cher.
Despite the initial wave of success, interest with The Whitehall had subsided throughout the 1980s. Mounting competition from a newer generation of hotels made it increasingly difficult for The Whitehall to compete for business. As such, the hotel’s ownership eventually decided to close its doors for good.
Having sat dormant for close to a decade, Maryland-based MHI Hotels intervened and saved The Whitehall. The investors purchased the facility and invested around $25 million into restoring the landmark back to its former glory.
After two years of continuous construction work, the building debuted as the “Crowne Plaza Houston Downtown.” The renovations undertaken by MHI Hotels had done much to restore the erstwhile hotel back to its former glory.
Sotherly Hotels finally reopened the building under its original name, “The Whitehall.” The renovations greatly rehabilitated all of the accommodations and public spaces, including its two dining establishments, Buffalo Bayou Coffee and Part & Parcel. Perhaps the greatest symbol of its revitalization has been the return of its influential clientele, which include former U.S. President Barack Obama and his Vice President, Joe Biden.
More than a decade after reopening, MHI Hotels reached an agreement with the Virginia-based Sotherly Hotels, Inc., to sell the location for a sum of $30 million. Sotherly Hotels subsequently invested another $4.8 million into its restoration, going further with its construction work than MHI Hotels had done several years prior.