An unerring commitment to achieving total guest and associate satisfaction, throughout his more than two decades in the hospitality industry, was an important factor in Bennett�s selection for the post, as the caliber of staff the hotel will retain is tantamount to providing what will be an anticipatory level of service.  Associates at all levels and areas of responsibility, from housekeepers to managers, will be given the directive of unobtrusively cataloguing the requests plus the likes and dislikes of every visitor.  Details ranging from food and pillow preferences to musical tastes and even furniture placement will be used to construct a comprehensive guest history, ensuring each successive stay feels more like a homecoming.

Bennett�s skill at developing unique, upscale destination environments and pursuing excellence in food and beverage also makes him an ideal fit for his new role � the 135-room Hotel Icon will feature a Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant and Rande Gerber bar, among other outstanding offerings.  Additionally, Bennett�s eye for detail and hands-on approach in all facets of previous pre-opening and restoration / renovation projects have already come in to play, while working with the hotel�s design team to create a regal atmosphere that balances style and substance, within a landmark, 1911 bank, for the ultimate visitor experience.

Bennett, who holds a degree in business administration, continues to take an active role in community affairs and has served on the boards of numerous travel and tourism organizations.

Hotel Icon is the embodiment of Benchmark Hospitality�s more than twenty-five years of innovation and excellence in the operation and development of premium hotels, resorts and conference centers.  A member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

About Hotel Icon

There are pop icons, business icons and cultural icons, but upon its targeted completion of December 2003, there will be only one Hotel Icon:  a next generation concept in personalized luxury hotels.  An inspired composition of timeless sophistication, anticipatory service and best of breed amenities, Hotel Icon � a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. � will not only serve as a landmark, center of social activity and source of pride for Houstonians, but it is also poised to become a destination of choice for the world�s most discerning travelers.

At the gateway to downtown�s thriving arts and entertainment district, the historic 1911 structure, originally designed for the Union National Bank by the renowned St. Louis architectural firm of Mauran, Russell & Crowell, has acted as a muse for the painstaking restoration and highly-anticipated rebirth of the property.  In its first incarnation, the building, located at 220 Main and fittingly adorned with keystones depicting the Greek god of trade, commerce and good fortune, Hermes, was a symbol of the wildcatter eccentricities and unbridled glamour of Houston�s colorful past.  As Hotel Icon, the gracious, 12-story, brick and Bedford limestone facade will invite discovery and set the stage for a guest experience that will engage the senses, while effortlessly expressing Houston�s evolution into a cosmopolitan hub of commerce and culture.

An intriguing alternative to mainstream four-star hotels and a departure from the boutique hotel concept, where function often mistakenly follows form, Hotel Icon will evoke the opulence and attention to detail evident in the grand hotels of the early 1900s, but on a more intimate scale.  The interiors, created by the award-winning San Francisco firm of Candra Scott & Anderson, who specialize in the historic reinvention of landmark hotels, will deftly showcase the building�s irreplaceable period detail, while incorporating every possible modern convenience.  Visitors will find themselves cocooned in luxury and surrounded by rich textures, plush fabrics and an eclectic collection of original European objects d�art, chosen specifically for the site.

First Impressions to Last a Lifetime:  Lobby, Bar and Restaurant

As guests enter the breathtaking Colonnade lobby, they will be transported to another time and place.  Almost ethereal in its beauty, the heart of Hotel Icon, with its towering, 30-foot Corinthian columns, expansive windows, ornate ironwork and intricately carved ceiling, is sure to take visitors by surprise, as so rarely are Americans able to experience an environment that precisely captures the glory of an earlier era.  A discreet reception area, fashioned from the original teller arches and integrating the massive vault door as a backdrop, will ensure the sumptuous yet residential feel of the space, as will the numerous seating vignettes in warm, jewel tones.

Ideal for relaxing and socializing, the Colonnade will also incorporate a signature culinary experience by luminary chef, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, whose 12 New York, London and Las Vegas eateries have earned him praise from critics and gourmands around the globe.  For private dining engagements, the elegant Wine Vault will seat up to 25.  And while the Hotel Icon is just steps from no less than 50 captivating dining and entertainment options, guests won�t have to leave the property to experience what is sure to be the premier boite for local and visiting glitterati.  The Lobby Loft, which will be open to the Colonnade below, will be home to the first Texas venture for operator Midnight Oil and Rande Gerber, whose Whiskey outposts are renowned for their celebrity clientele and starlet servers.  VIP bar patrons and private parties will also have the opportunity to indulge their legal fancies in the seductive and private Opium Den.

Guestrooms That Leave No Stone or Sheet Unturned

A haven of sensory delights for the traveler, each of Hotel Icon�s 135 spectacular guestrooms will be reminiscent of a chic pied a terre, with a vivid color palette, average footprint of 400 square feet and a finish level of uncompromising quality and comfort.  Balancing substance and style, the accommodations will be well suited to both rest and work, while offering an experience that will transcend the everyday.  Visitors will also enjoy the pleasures of 24/7 valet laundry and twice-daily maid service, as well as in-room dining from the hotel�s signature restaurant and select spa services.

Created to envelop guests in regal splendor, no detail has been overlooked, from the inlaid pocket doors that will open to reveal a pass through window between the bedroom and bathroom, enabling one to watch television while soaking in the oversized jacuzzi tub, to the workspace with task lighting and ergonomic chair.  And although the sleeping floors are entirely new, great care has been taken to incorporate exquisite millwork, hand-blocked wallpaper and hardware that are in keeping with the original construction of the building.  Seventeen suites will range from a Junior with living area to a three-story Penthouse with separate living, sleeping and reception areas, plus a private, 600-square-foot rooftop terrace with sweeping vistas of downtown. 

Additional guestroom highlights will include panoramic views from operable windows, custom bed covers, down blankets, distinctive linens and premium bedding with a choice of three pillow types, armchairs, 27� flat screen televisions, refreshment centers, oversized personal safes, cordless telephones, Web TV with wireless keyboards, fax/copier/printer upon request and CD players with an extensive hotel catalog of offerings.  The cavernous bathrooms will juxtapose marble vanities and delicate wall coverings with classic subway and hexagonal mosaic tile work.  Independent garden tubs and enclosed showers, dressing and make-up areas, deluxe bathrobes and Moulton Brown savage products are among the other features.

Where Exemplary Service is the Standard

Dedicated to enlivening all five senses, Hotel Icon will pamper clients with truly personalized service by building an extensive history of guest preferences, geared to fostering long-term relationships.  A variety of complimentary offerings, intended to provide an experience of added ease and convenience, will include local phone calls, in-room T-1 Internet access, overnight shoe shines, full-service business center, selection of daily newspapers and car service transportation within the surrounding area.  The hotel�s most frequent visitors will also have the opportunity to check-in curbside and store a limited number of personal items such as a suit, cosmetics and workout gear for future visits.