Historic Hilton Hotel to Join Curio – A Collection by Hilton

DALLAS and MCLEAN, Va. April 29, 2015Hilton Worldwide and Dallas-based Centurion American Development today announced the signing of a franchise license agreement to open The Statler Hotel & Residences, in Dallas, Texas. Debuting in October 2016, the refurbished landmark hotel will be part of Curio – A Collection by Hilton, a global brand of distinctive upper upscale and luxury hotels, hand-picked for travelers who seek local discovery and authentic experiences.

The original Dallas Statler Hilton, an iconic building of mid-twentieth century design located at 1914 Commerce Street in downtown Dallas, was heralded as the first and finest hotel of the modern era. Inspired by Conrad Hilton’s vision, its ground-breaking design and electronic innovations established Dallas as the business and entertainment center of the Southwest. Complemented by the addition of Neiman Marcus, this downtown city block has become synonymous with high style, fashion and entertainment. Centurion American Development Group’s refurbishment plans for the historic 19-story building will give a nod to the hotel’s architecture, design and entertainment roots. The renovated landmark hotel is expected to significantly advance the resurgence of downtown Dallas as a cultural hub.

“Known as the first modern American hotel, the Statler not only made hospitality and Dallas history, it is a vital chapter of Hilton Worldwide’s story. We are so excited to see the redevelopment of this magnificent property and welcome it back to our family,” said Dianna Vaughan, global head, Curio – A Collection by Hilton.

The original Statler Hilton boasted many firsts for the hotel industry, including elevator music and custom 21″ Westinghouse TVs in every room. The property was one of the first hotels to feature conference and ballrooms on its lower levels.

“The Statler was one of the most glamorous hotels in the world when it first opened in 1956, and we plan to restore its position as a destination for not only travelers coming to Dallas but also as a place to live and work. Joining Curio – A Collection by Hilton affords us the opportunity to craft a one-of-a-kind experience for hotel guests and to set the tone for the rest of the development,” said Mehrdad Moayedi, president and CEO of Centurion American Development Group.

Centurion American Development Group’s master plan includes 161 hotel rooms on the lower five floors and 219 residences on the top 11 floors. The building will include meeting space, retail and office space, four restaurants and a hotel lounge. A new music venue is also planned in the 14,500-square-foot ballroom.

Development of this historic iconic building is set to start at the beginning of May. “I have known Mehrdad for over 30 years, and I could not be more excited to be his partner on this important and exciting opportunity. He clearly had the vision when no one else saw it two years ago, and it is my job to make his vision a reality,” said Frank Zaccanelli, partner of Centurion American Development Group.

Plano-based Aimbridge Hospitality has been chosen to manage the hotel. It currently manages 36 Hilton Worldwide hotels throughout the United States and is the second largest independent hotel management firm in the country with an impressive team of veteran hoteliers.

“We are honored to have been chosen by Centurion American Development Group to manage this historically significant property. This is a remarkable hotel deeply rooted in Dallas history and the re-imagined Statler Hotel & Residences will add such an exciting dimension to downtown Dallas.” said Dave Johnson, president and CEO of Aimbridge Hospitality.

As members of the Hilton Worldwide portfolio, all Curio hotels, including the newly signed Statler Hotel & Residences, will participate in Hilton HHonors®, the only hotel loyalty program that allows members to earn points and miles on the same stay and no blackout dates on reward stays.

For more information on The Statler Hotel & Residences visit TheStatlerDallas.com.

More information about Curio – A Collection by Hilton, may be found at curiocollection.com and news.curiocollection.com.