ATLANTA (May 1, 2009) -- The Georgian Terrace Hotel has been an Atlanta landmark since its grand opening on October 2, 1911, at a gala attended by thousands. Designed in the Beaux Arts style as a Southern interpretation of a Parisian hotel, it is Atlanta's most elegant hotel and has been marked by lavish affairs including the "Gone With the Wind" premiere party and legendary concerts under promoter Alex Cooley, who used the Georgian Terrace ballroom from 1974 to 1979, for his famous Electric Ballroom featuring bands such as Aerosmith, Bruce Springsteen, The Pretenders, Patti Smith, Kansas and The Ramones. Today, the hotel owner, Fremont Realty Capital has completed an $11 million renovation to put this historic jewel back into service as a modern classic, operated by Crescent Hotels & Resorts.
Located in the lobby is one of the crowning jewels of the renovation, Livingston Restaurant and Bar, featuring acclaimed Chef Gary Mennie's inventive local cuisine. Offering five distinctive atmospheres, diners can enjoy signature cocktails at The Bar at Livingston, small plates in the lounge or a multi-course meal in the main dining room. In addition, the upper level of the restaurant, known as The Loge at Livingston, offers a quieter dining experience while still in view of the action below and the street scene overlooking the Fox Theater. There is an intimate private dining room that can accommodate up to 20 guests for cocktail and dining events and an expansive columned terrace overlooking Peachtree Street. Complimentary valet parking rounds out the easy dining experience.
The Georgian Terrace Hotel and Livingston Restaurant and Bar are the official hotel and restaurant of the Fox Theater, providing the ultimate dinner-and-a-show experience for local Atlantans, hotel guests and Fox patrons. The hotel's central location provides ample complimentary parking for diners and guests, fabulous pre- and post-theater menus, unparalleled access to the Fox - located directly across the street - and the ideal spot for a night-cap or dessert.
The renovation also consisted of the addition of a third ballroom and board room, a complete refreshing of the lobby, new complimentary high speed Wi-Fi internet throughout the property and several redesigned and updated guest rooms and suites.
The lavish ballrooms include the newly created Mitchell, which accommodates up to 80 and is ideal for intimate social gatherings, wedding ceremonies and business meetings; the spectacular Grand Ballroom, which holds a seated dinner for 225 and theater-style seating for up to 275; and the elegant Piedmont Ballroom, which accommodates a seated dinner for up to 200 and 250 theater style. Brides will be dazzled by award-winning Chef Mennie's incredible menus inspired by Livingston Restaurant.
The hotel's 5,514 square-feet of dedicated meeting room space was recently re-certified by the International Association of Conference Centers (IAAC). With over 16,000 square-feet of meeting and ballroom space, The Georgian Terrace is an inspired place to celebrate and do business. The concierge, planners and caterers attend every need-from audiovisual support to cocktail receptions to group activities and banquets.
Guests will be met by a completely renovated lobby. The new design brings a modern edge to a classic terrace environment with the installation of sculptural landscape pieces and sophisticated furnishings, all designed to enhance the grand architecture of the space. The new front desk located in the spacious atrium lobby, creates a welcoming entrance experience for guests, in line with the grand nature of the hotel.
Throughout the hotel all hallway and ballroom carpet, totaling over 1-1/2 acres, was replaced with custom-designed, plush, multi-level patterned carpet. The entire hotel is upgraded to provide free wireless Internet access throughout all public spaces.
All guestrooms were upgraded with a lush Serta Sapphire Suite Pillow top - Perfect Sleeper mattresses complemented with luxurious bedding packages of all-white duvet, navy blue and gold pillow shams, gold bed skirts, navy blue bed scarf and 300-plus thread-count linens. Guestrooms also received new 45- and 37-inch flat screen high definition TVs in all family rooms and master bedrooms. The guestrooms also boast new complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi internet connections.
Two major suites, a penthouse suite and a three-bedroom suite, with more than 1,500 and 1,750 square-feet respectively, have been completely remodeled for guest stays and special functions. The suites will be available for use in conjunction with weddings as a preparation room for brides and their bridal parties as well as visiting dignitaries, VIP guests and for honeymoons.
The hotel has a total of 326 guestrooms including luxury rooms as wells as one-, two- and three-bedroom suites complete with kitchens and washer/dryer. The hotel also has six large premier penthouses. There is a penthouse gym and rooftop pool both with dramatic view of the city. Situated in the heart of the Midtown's arts and culture district, the hotel is within walking distance to great restaurants, museums and retail.
The renovation was intended to bring this grand dame hotel back to its original splendor and updated for the 21st century guest. It sits on the northeast corner of the intersection of Peachtree Street and Ponce de Leon Avenue, which was referred when it was built as "the city's most famous intersection." New York architect, William L. Stoddart designed hotel to address both streets through the use of turreted corners connecting the two facades. This effect was further enhanced by the curving facade of the neighboring Ponce de Leon Apartments, also designed by Stoddart, and opened in 1913. Together, the Georgian Terrace Hotel and the Ponce de Leon Apartments share this prominent intersection with the "Fabulous" Fox Theater, built in 1927, one of the largest theatres built during the height of the golden age of movie palaces.
The Georgian Terrace has played host to many prominent individuals including President Calvin Coolidge, Enrico Caruso and the Metropolitan Opera Company, Charles Lindbergh and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Of late, the hotel welcomed Courtney B. Vance, Angela Bassett, President Jimmy Carter, Dominique Wilkins, Bob Dole, Matthew Fox and the cast of the movie "We are Marshall." George Clooney and the hotel were recently featured in a short glamorous Martini film.
The hotel's rich history includes dance legend Arthur Murray as a featured teacher in the hotel's Grand Ballroom and numerous fundraisers that took place for the war effort during WWII. It served as a popular gathering place for wealthy Atlantans and emerged as a symbol of the resurrection of the Southern capital from its faded Civil War ruins. The hotel sits on the former site of the two-story home of one of Atlanta's most beloved mayors Livingston Mims, elected in 1900, and whose legacy was the creation of Atlanta's streetcars.
