Memphis set to get new hotel
One of the biggest hotels in Memphis could soon take shape next door to Elvis Presley’s Graceland home.
Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc. has filed plans for 450-room hotel alongside the late iconic star’s mansion on Elvis Presley Boulevard, which would become the third largest hotel in the Memphis area, and largest outside downtown.
The firm, which owns and operates the Elvis brand, has drawn up proposals for the hotel along with an upscale restaurant, sports bar and movie theater, at a construction cost of about $70 million.
Local architects Hnedak Bobo Group has been appointed to design the new hotel, which will be named the Guest House at Graceland, and expected to be completed by 2015.
In December, CORE Media Group sold its 85% stake of Presley Enterprises to entrepreneur Joel Weinshanker and New York firm Authentic Brands Group.
At that time, the new owners vowed to upgrade facilities to attract more than the current 600,000 visitors a year.
The remaining 15% share of the company is still owned by Elvis’ daughter Lisa Marie along with the Graceland mansion.
The company also operates Heartbreak Hotel, a smaller boutique hotel which it also hopes to expand.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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