Hilton Pittsburgh
Encyclopedia
Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown (formerly the Hilton Pittsburgh) is a hotel in downtown Pittsburgh, with a prominent position in the Golden Triangle area adjacent to Point State Park
, the Fort Pitt Museum
and the Cultural District
. Hilton announced plans for the skyscraper hotel on June 11, 1956 and ground was broken for it on September 20, 1957 with Conrad Hilton
himself in attendance.
For over 50 years the hotel, along with the Mellon Arena
and the William Penn Hotel
, was one of the key destinations for any distinguished visitor to the region. Among the significant events that the hotel hosted have been:
In the last decade the hotel has had increasing competition and subsequently financial problems, including a troubled expansion plan that saw the construction workers walk off the job site. In 2010, Shubh Hotels fired the hotel management company, Crescent Hotels & Resorts, after a legal battle. Prism Hotels & Resorts replaced Crescent. In September 2010, Hilton Hotels & Resorts
announced that they were terminating their franchise agreement with Shubh Hotels Pittsburgh LLC. On November 23, 2010, the hotel officially became part of Wyndham Hotels
' luxury Grand collection, taking the name Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown. In 2011, it was announced that Starbucks Coffee, and Sbarro Italian Eatery are planning to open new food facilties inside the hotel in Mid 2012, including adding a new bar and lounge in Late 2012.
Point State Park
Point State Park is a Pennsylvania state park on in Downtown Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA, at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers, forming the Ohio River....
, the Fort Pitt Museum
Fort Pitt Museum
Fort Pitt Museum is an indoor/outdoor museum that is administiered by the Senator John Heinz History Center in downtown Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in the United States. It is at the confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers, where the Ohio River is formed...
and the Cultural District
Cultural District, Pittsburgh
The Cultural District is a fourteen-square block area in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA bordered by the Allegheny River on the north, Tenth Street on the east, Stanwix Street on the west, and Liberty Avenue on the south....
. Hilton announced plans for the skyscraper hotel on June 11, 1956 and ground was broken for it on September 20, 1957 with Conrad Hilton
Conrad Hilton
Conrad Nicholson Hilton was an American businessman and investor. He is well known for being the founder of the Hilton Hotels chain.-Early life:Hilton was born in San Antonio, New Mexico...
himself in attendance.
For over 50 years the hotel, along with the Mellon Arena
Mellon Arena
Civic Arena is an indoor arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that is currently undergoing demolition. It was the first retractable roof major sports venue in the world, covering 170,000 sq. feet and constructed with just shy of 3,000 tons of Pittsburgh steel...
and the William Penn Hotel
William Penn Hotel
The Omni William Penn Hotel is located at 530 William Penn Place on Mellon Square in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A variety of luminaries have stayed at the hotel, including John F. Kennedy. The hotel staff innovated Lawrence Welk's now famous bubble machine, and it was the site of Bob...
, was one of the key destinations for any distinguished visitor to the region. Among the significant events that the hotel hosted have been:
- May 6-7, 1960: Presidential candidate Lyndon B. JohnsonLyndon B. JohnsonLyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
stays at the hotel and gives a major speech with mayor Joseph BarrJoseph BarrJoseph or Joe Barr may refer to:*Joseph M. Barr , Mayor of Pittsburgh*Joseph W. Barr , U.S. Secretary of the Treasury*Joe Barr , editor and writer for the SourceForge sites, Linux.com, and the IT Managers Journal...
in the ballrooom, while on a two day campaign tour of the region. - November 4, 1960: President Eisenhower gives a major speech at the hotel.
- April 24, 1964: President JohnsonLyndon B. JohnsonLyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
attends a campaign rally to over 2,000 in the hotel's ballroom and speaks at a League of Women VotersLeague of Women VotersThe League of Women Voters is an American political organization founded in 1920 by Carrie Chapman Catt during the last meeting of the National American Woman Suffrage Association approximately six months before the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution gave women the right to vote...
conference at the hotel. - October 6-7, 1970: Vice President AgnewSpiro AgnewSpiro Theodore Agnew was the 39th Vice President of the United States , serving under President Richard Nixon, and the 55th Governor of Maryland...
gives a speech at the hotel and stays the night, amid 200 protestors clashing with police, 37 being arrested and a girl burning an American flag. - October 26, 1976: President FordGerald FordGerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
addresses the Economic Club Conference at the hotel. - September 4-5, 1980: George Bush gives several campaign speeches and stays the night, completing his address to the "World Affairs Council".
- July 16-18 1981: The 58th annual International Brotherhood of Magicians Convention is held at the hotel.
- April 6, 1983: President Ronald ReaganRonald ReaganRonald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
delivers a major address at the "Conference of Dislocated Workers" in the ballroom. - March 27, 1984: Vice President Walter MondaleWalter MondaleWalter Frederick "Fritz" Mondale is an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 42nd Vice President of the United States , under President Jimmy Carter, and as a United States Senator for Minnesota...
speaks at the AFL-CIO state convention. - August 5, 2002: President George W. BushGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
stays at the hotel as he meets with survivors of the Quecreek Mine RescueQuecreek Mine RescueThe Quecreek Mine Rescue took place in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, when nine miners were trapped underground for over 78 hours, from July 24 to 28, 2002...
, he also hosts a news conference as he signs an Anti-Abortion bill into law in the ballroom. - June 22-28 2008: Airports Council International Annual Marketing Communications Conference.http://www.pitairport.com/Important_National_Airport_Industry_Meetings_Convening_in_Pittsburgh
In the last decade the hotel has had increasing competition and subsequently financial problems, including a troubled expansion plan that saw the construction workers walk off the job site. In 2010, Shubh Hotels fired the hotel management company, Crescent Hotels & Resorts, after a legal battle. Prism Hotels & Resorts replaced Crescent. In September 2010, Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Hilton Hotels & Resorts is an international chain of full-service hotels and resorts founded by Conrad Hilton and now owned by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton hotels are either owned by, managed by, or franchised to independent operators by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton Hotels became the first coast-to-coast...
announced that they were terminating their franchise agreement with Shubh Hotels Pittsburgh LLC. On November 23, 2010, the hotel officially became part of Wyndham Hotels
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Wyndham Hotels and Resorts is a group of chains of hotels and resorts located mainly in the United States and Canada, but also in Mexico and the Caribbean.-History:...
' luxury Grand collection, taking the name Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown. In 2011, it was announced that Starbucks Coffee, and Sbarro Italian Eatery are planning to open new food facilties inside the hotel in Mid 2012, including adding a new bar and lounge in Late 2012.