The Hotel Icon in Houston has been around since 1911, and used to house the Union National Bank. But in January, the struggling landmark was acquired by a company known as Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund, a side project of NBA legend Magic Johnson.

The new ownership had decided the hotel would be re-branded by an unnamed "major luxury national hotel chain" at some point over the summer. It has now been revealed that the Icon will be inducted into Marriott's exclusive Autograph Collection, and will officially relaunch in two weeks.

This will be the Autograph Collection's twenty-fifth hotel, though properties in the Caribbean and in other parts of Europe are planned for 2012. ]]> ASchechter 2011-10-06T11:35:01-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/4/1/0523/46931 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/vcufinalfour2011.jpg" class="top"><p> If you're a fan of Virginia Commonwealth University, you probably never thought this weekend would happen. But if you're a fan of VCU, then that means you're probably looking for a hotel room in Houston, Texas for the NCAA Final Four. After all, you'd be crazy to miss this appearance. <p>While hotel rooms in Houston are in high demand this weekend, they aren't at exactly Super Bowl rates. Looking at <a href="http://hotelrates.hotelchatter.com">HotelRates.HotelChatter.com</a>, we were psyched to see the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Hotel+Indigo+Houston+at+the+Galleria/local/4846"><b>Hotel Indigo Houston at the Galleria</b></a> going for $209 on Saturday and Sunday night. That includes free WiFi, <a href="http://www.houstonluxuryhotel.com/accommodations.php">very bright guestroom decor</a> and hardwood floors (perhaps this could come in handy if you need to dribble out juliana 2011-04-01T08:46:51-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/3/15/131952/181 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/newfshouston.jpg" class="top"><p> Aside from keeping tabs on which hotels have opened and which have not</a>, we're also big fans of <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/hotel renovations"><b>Hotel Renovations</b></a>, especially when they are as drastic as this one from the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Four+Seasons+Houston/local/640"><b>Four Seasons Houston</b></a>.<p> The $25 million renovation took about three years for the hotel to complete but the new guest rooms, the resort-style pool and thoroughly modern hotel lobby were worth the wait. You can glimpse the before and after pictures on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/columbusprco/sets/72157625994264905/with/5470808079/">Flickr</a>. Welcome to the 21st century FS Houston! Now A-Rod will have a swanker-looking place to <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/6/12/04419/7370/hotels/MLB_Travel_Hotels_Near_Houston_s_Minute_Maid_Park">shack up with his blondes.</a><p>Even better, the room rates haven't gone up all that much. We found rooms next weekend for <b>$275 a juliana 2011-03-16T10:06:14-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/10/30/143421/40

Friday is now officially Cute Hotel Doggie Day here at HotelChatter, and in honor of Halloween, we felt it was our duty to bring you Dogs At Hotels in Halloween Costumes. It looks like quite a few properties have had Halloween parties for their four-legged guests this week, including Houston’s Hotel Derek.

Dog Days Out are a regular affair at the pet-friendly Hotel Derek, but this Wednesday was a special Howl-o-ween Spooktacular. As you can see from these photos, it wasn’t just the dogs who dressed up: owners were welcome to come in costume, too. (Which seems fair, considering how silly and perturbed some dogs look when they’re in costume.)