The W Austin Reopens With A Hint Of Confidence

Where: 200 Lavaca St , Austin, TX, 78701-3935

July 11, 2011 at 10:30 AM | by ASchechter | Comments (0)

Glass panels may be sexier, but for now, wood will have to suffice at the W Austin, which re-opened this weekend after an 11-day hiatus. The accident-prone hotel had to concede defeat when cascading glass panels were quickly turning the surrounding area into a hazard zone. So far, only one lawsuit has been filed against the W.

The above photo shows construction workers diligently re-installing 1,000 industrial wooden panels into the same balcony fixtures where the glass had once been. A city building official explained that in order to fully endorse the re-opening of the hotel, W required the approval of not one but two local engineering firms.

Engineering standards have been met for these panels, and approval is still pending for a proposed set of railings. Though, in the end, the real judges will be the hotel guests, who will probably be keeping an extra eye out for anything resembling a shard of glass.

A peppy front desk clerk assured us the hotel is "100% up and running," and a quick call to their reservations office confirmed a queen-size bed is available for around $244. Meanwhile, General Manager Drew McQuade enthuses:

"We're thrilled to be reopen for business, and to welcome our guests back at the W Austin. Safety is our top priority, and we feel very comfortable reopening the hotel."

For a first-hand account of last week's emergency evacuation (guests were reportedly transferred to a nearby Hyatt), click here.

[Photo: Austin.Ynn]

HotelChatter

Select a Destination:

Hotel Reopenings / W Hotels / Austin Hotels / → All Tags