The idea for the hotel was born a number of years ago. John Barrett, chairman, president and CEO of Western & Southern, thought that Cincinnati business travelers and visitors needed better hotel options. In 2011, Eagle Realty Group, Western & Southern’s real estate subsidiary, opened The Phelps, a Residence Inn by Marriott, and, in 2017, the AC Hotel at The Banks. Later, when there was an opportunity to create a new luxury hotel, they jumped at the chance, developing a space that honors the city’s elegant past with contemporary features.
“Our vision for The Lytle Park Hotel was to create a community centerpiece that will be the finest boutique hotel in this area and beyond. We want the guest experience to be second to none — honored hospitality — a rich commitment to genuinely authentic warmth and classic graciousness that makes people want to come back,” says Barrett.
“We are proud of the impact we expect The Lytle Park Hotel to have in this corner of downtown. We are also proud of the fact that we have successfully preserved the historical aspects of the two buildings combined into one incredible hotel. The original building was in deplorable condition and needed to be totally rebuilt from within. It was far more costly, but we wanted to preserve the character of the historic building and blend it with current features that exceed the expectations of today’s travelers. We think you will like the way it turned out.”
Perhaps the most unique aspects of The Lytle Park Hotel are the flexible event venues that provide spectacular views of Cincinnati. For business stays or social gatherings, its venues offer style, variety and versatility. With over eight spaces spanning nearly 12,000 square feet, The Lytle Park Hotel is ideal for any holiday event, social gathering or wedding. The rooftop space boasts a fully retractable cover that is perfect for indoor and outdoor events, creating a park like atmosphere in the midst of an urban setting.
“Vista at Lytle Park was always meant to be a unique experience for the city, but it also allows the hotel to market its private event capabilities through the new social distancing lens, offering the only indoor-outdoor rooftop venue in Cincinnati,” says Tom Stapleton, president of Eagle Realty Group.
The team at The Lytle Park Hotel prides itself on providing unparalleled hospitality. “As part of our refined, refreshingly classic hospitality, guests can expect a unique visit crafted just for them with the help of our concierge team, beginning prior to arrival. Upon arrival, the guest will be greeted by our valet attendant, bellman and doorman, as they’re welcomed into the stunning lobby, bathed in natural light that dances off the custom light feature atop the lobby bar,” says Brett Woods, area managing director of The Lytle Park Hotel.
Marriott’s Autograph Collection tagline is Exactly Like Nothing Else. This speaks to not only the physical product, inspired by Lytle Park with artfully intertwined traditional and contemporary aesthetics, but to the people who create a superior guest experience.
The restaurant and bar provide an inspiring classic dining experience, offering a fresh Northern Italian menu and handcrafted drinks in a refined and sophisticated setting. Local Cincinnatians and visitors alike will enjoy the fine dining experience at Subito, serving made-from-scratch pasta, pizza, antipasti and raw bar, along with Piedmontese steaks and house-made Lemon or Orangecello. The hotel’s crowning feature, Vista at Lytle Park – the indoor-outdoor rooftop bar – offers a contemporary menu, designed for sharing, with sweeping views of Lytle Park, downtown Cincinnati and the Ohio River serving as the breathtaking backdrop.
As guests retire to their spacious rooms, they will be welcomed by complimentary, nightly turn-down service and luxury spa-like amenities, such as plush bathrobes and slippers, Dyptique bath essentials, Frette Italian linens, flat-panel TVs, Nespresso coffee machines, marble bathrooms with glass encased rain showers, and in-room tablet technology. Each room and suite is appointed with gorgeous decor and elegant furnishings. The guest experience they create is truly Exactly Like Nothing Else.
The development of The Lytle Park Hotel was not without a setback or two.
“With any hotel opening, you brace for the unexpected, but no one could have anticipated the impact COVID-19 has had on the hospitality community,” Woods says. “With our opening date originally set for March 19, we were in the unfortunate position to keep our doors closed for the greater good of our community, friends and neighbors, despite our eagerness to debut our long-awaited project. This delay meant not only reassessing our sales and marketing plans to provide customers with flexibility to postpone events, but a reevaluation of all of our operations and procedures.”
As an Autograph Collection hotel, in partnership with Marriott International, The Lytle Park Hotel has elevated cleanliness standards to align with recent guidelines in response to the pandemic. They are dedicated to creating a clean environment that reflects the new health and safety standards in light of COVID-19, and they continue to actively review and adapt their procedures to ensure continued attention to the health of guests and team members.
“We look forward to welcoming guests and showcasing the very best of The Lytle Park Hotel experience and, most of all, highlighting the Cincinnati hospitality experience,” says Stapleton.
The Lytle Park Hotel is at 311 Pike St, Cincinnati, OH 45202. For more information, visit thelytleparkhotel.com or call 513.621.4500.