HOTEL: LIVE! BY LOEWS ARLINGTON, TEXAS
THE HOTEL this is the first Live! hotel from the North American Loews hotel Group. It is located adjacent to major sporting venues (the Dallas Cowboys' At&t stadium and both the existing and new homes of the texas rangers baseball team) and the texas Live! entertainment complex. more Live! hotels will be rolled out in similar settings, targetting business travellers during the week and leisure guests at weekends. Arlington lies midway between the twin cities of Dallas and Fort Worth (both around 20 minutes away) and just south of DFW International Airport (15 minutes).
THE ROOM there are 300 guestrooms across four categories – plus suites – in this 14-storey building. I was staying in a premium room on the 12th floor, where floor-to-ceiling windows framed the impressive Dallas Cowboys stadium. however, it is baseball-themed art that adorns the corridors and walls of guestrooms. Decor was smart greys – and stone in the bathroom, with walk-in shower – while amenities included a huge tv, desk, chaise longue, coffee machine, safe and ironing board. there was no bottled water in the room (complimentary nor otherwise), which was an oversight.
THE FACILITIES thereʼs a wellequipped gym, outdoor pool and bar, small business centre, river market coffee shop, all-day restaurant Cut & bourbon (specialising in steak), adjacent bar and outdoor Clover Club bar and lawn. thereʼs 35,000sqft of event space including a 14,000sqft ballroom that seats up to 950 people – the largest in Arlington. A small creek and riverside path snake around the rear of the hotel where work was still under way on constructing a showpiece fountain.
THE VERDICT Itʼs an interesting new concept from Loews, with an appealing design and excellent location for leisure and business guests alike. Its proximity to DFW airport is a real boon and is already helping deliver ‘excellent’ meetings and events bookings. the staff were fantastic throughout and full of enthusiasm for this flagship property. Indeed, the Arlington area is enjoying something of a renaissance currently with around $4billion being invested in infrastructure. major local employers include Airbus, Gm and American Airlines.
THE DETAILS Live! by Loews, 1600 e randol mill road, Arlington, texas, 76011. rates from £135 per night.