http://www.hotelchatter.com/ Hotel Reviews, Hotel Ratings, Hotel Openings en-us Copyright 2008 - SFO Media 2012-02-14T04:27:10Z HotelChatter HotelChatter http://www.hotelchatter.com/images/hcwhite.jpg http://www.hotelchatter.com/ http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/8/9/115337/5300 <![CDATA[<p> <img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/historicparkinn_flw.jpg" class="top"><p> A long, long, time ago, practically an eternity ago on the internet really, we learned that a hotel once designed by <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/12/14/145431/33/hotels/Frank_Lloyd_Wright_Hotel_Could_Open_by_2010">Frank Lloyd Wright</a> in Mason City, Iowa would reopen after years of disrepair in the grand year of 2010. So that didn't happen last year but <a href="http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/38296/frank-lloyd-wrights-historic-last-hotel-reopens-with-an-18-million-makeover/">ArtInfo</a> reports on that after an $18 million renovation, <b>The Historic Park Inn Hotel</b></a> is now officially open to FLW-enthusiasts, and anyone else who is stranded in Mason City for a night. <Blockquote><p> After hanging in a state of precarious decline for the past 30 years, the renewed Historic Park Inn Hotel emerges with plenty for Wright fans to marvel at: his original art-glass skylights in the juliana 2011-08-10T14:14:31-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/4/22/94026/3335 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/easterbunny_atheists.jpg" class="top"><p> While the good little girls and boys of the world are donning their pastel Easter outfits and running around searching for Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies, the <a href="http://www.atheists.org/events/National_Convention"><b>American Atheists</b></a> are going to be partying it up at the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Embassy+Suites+On+The+River/local/4859"><b>Embassy Suites</b></a> in Des Moines, Iowa this weekend. <p>The God-less group is hosting their national convention this weekend at the hotel and an estimated 700 people are expected to attend. That might not seem like a lot but apparently the Embassy Suites is already sold-out so the AA is pointing the overflow to the nearby Marriott. Gasp! What will the Mormons think about that?<P>The convention will feature several different speakers but will also host a Costume Buffet juliana 2011-04-22T11:02:03-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/1/3/1488/10593 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/hotelvetro.jpg" class="imgborder"><p>Just in time for today's caucuses in Iowa, the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Hotelvetro+And+Conference+Cent/ian/242987"><b>Hotel Vetro</b></a> is way more flash than you'd expect for flyover country. Located on Iowa City's pedestrian mall (who knew?!), it's one of those fancy hotels that takes full advantage of its college town market.<br> <p>Many of the 54 suites in the 14-floor building overlook the University of Iowa campus. In-room, polished concrete floors, kitchenettes, free wifi, free bottled water and Starbucks coffee give the hotel an upscale feel despite the relatively low rates. And don't fear: The bathroom is far from useless, despite the W vibe:<blockquote><p>We were impressed with the fancy, but functional room that included both a bathtub for two and a glass-walled shower. Lighting is pbb 2008-01-03T15:45:01-05:00 41.658941 -91.531635 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/12/14/145431/33 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/wright_hotel.jpg" class="imgborder"><p>We normally think of <b>Frank Lloyd Wright</b> as a guy who designed homes, but he also created a handful of hotels, including the now-destroyed Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. <p>His last remaining hotel is in Mason City, Iowa, and soon enough, you'll have the chance to stay there. A major renovation project will fix up both the Park Inn Hotel and an adjoining bank, and should be finished by 2010. (Of course, "should be" are the operative words here.) <p>If you can't wait until 2010 to stay in the Wright hotel, our little bro site <b><a href="http://www.jaunted.com/">Jaunted</a></b> has <a href="http://www.jaunted.com/tag/Frank%20Lloyd%20Wright">plenty of dish</a> on the architect's famous (and not-so-famous) buildings around the US. <p><b>Related Stories:</b><br>&#183; <a href="http://www.nationaltrust.org/magazine/archives/arc_news_2007/121007.htm">Last Wright Hotel on pbb 2007-12-14T15:25:05-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2006/5/4/14211/97057 <![CDATA[<p><i>You know the scene. You open the door to your brand new hotel room, run over to the window, open the blinds and bam, you are hit with the anti-view. Maybe you are looking down a dirty alley, witnessing a drug deal, staring at an air shaft in the face, or seeing a brick wall. Whatever you are viewing it is not extremely pleasurable. Help out your fellow hotel mavens by uploading your anti-views to the <a href="http://flickr.com/groups/hotelchatter/">HotelChatter/Flickr photo pool</a>, or by <a href="mailto:tips@hotelchatter.com">sending the photo along to us</a>. Remember to tell us the name of the hotel and the room number with the not-so-easy-on-the-eyes view.</i><p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/antiview_countryinn.jpg"><p>We know that this view from the <a href="http://www.countryinns.com/davenportia_north"><b>Country Inn &amp; Suites</b></a> in Davenport, juliana 2006-05-04T14:04:31-05:00 41.576837 -90.572787 Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/