Providence Biltmore
Encyclopedia
The Providence Biltmore Hotel is an upscale hotel that opened in 1922 as part of the Biltmore Hotel
chain. It was founded by John McEntee Bowman
and Louis Wallick, and is currently owned by Grand Heritage Hotels International. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1977.
Built in the neo-Federal Beaux-arts style and designed by the architectural firm of Warren and Wetmore
(who also designed Grand Central Station), the Biltmore was the second-tallest building in the city (after the Rhode Island State House
) until the Industrial Trust Tower
was finished six years later. Today, the Biltmore is the 9th-tallest building in the city.
In 1954, when Providence was inundated by Hurricane Carol, much of the lobby of the Biltmore was underwater, and a plaque, eight feet up on lobby columns, commemorates the high water mark today.
In 1975 the Biltmore closed and remained out of use until a group of local businesses implemented Federal tax credits to rehabilitate the building, reopening it in 1979. The Biltmore's external glass elevator
which climbs all 18 floors of the hotel was added for the 1979 re-opening.
The hotel was originally built with 600 rooms. Later, walls were knocked down and suites were created. The hotel offers 292 guestrooms. The hotel currently contains the largest Starbucks in New England, McCormick & Schmicks Restaurant, and the Spa at the Providence Biltmore.
The hotel contains banquet space of over 19000 square feet (1,765.2 m²). With a Grand Ballroom on the rooftop level, offering views of the city, that can hold up to 750, it contains space for functions such as wedding receptions or conferences.
For 71 years (until the Westin Hotel
was completed in 1993), it was the tallest and largest hotel in Providence
, Rhode Island
.
", and the 2007 Anne Fletcher film "27 Dresses
".
Showtime episodes of "Brotherhood" from 2004-2007 were also shot here.
Biltmore Hotel
Bowman-Biltmore Hotels was a chain created by hotel magnate John McEntee Bowman.The name evokes the Vanderbilt family's Biltmore Estate, whose buildings and gardens within are privately owned historical landmarks and tourist attractions in Asheville, North Carolina, United States. The name has...
chain. It was founded by John McEntee Bowman
John McEntee Bowman
John McEntee Bowman was an Canadian-born businessman and an American hotelier and horseman who was the founding president of Bowman-Biltmore Hotels Corp....
and Louis Wallick, and is currently owned by Grand Heritage Hotels International. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1977.
Built in the neo-Federal Beaux-arts style and designed by the architectural firm of Warren and Wetmore
Warren and Wetmore
Warren and Wetmore was an architecture firm in New York City. It was a partnership between Whitney Warren and Charles Wetmore , that had one of the most extensive practices of its time and was known for the designing of large hotels.Whitney Warren was a cousin of the Vanderbilts and spent ten...
(who also designed Grand Central Station), the Biltmore was the second-tallest building in the city (after the Rhode Island State House
Rhode Island State House
The Rhode Island State House is the capitol of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It is located on the border of the Downtown and Smith Hill sections of the state capital city of Providence...
) until the Industrial Trust Tower
Bank of America Tower (Providence)
The Bank of America Building is the tallest building in the city of Providence and the state of Rhode Island, and the 28th tallest in New England. Standing at and comprising 26 floors, it was the third tallest building in New England when completed, behind the Travelers Tower in Hartford, CT and...
was finished six years later. Today, the Biltmore is the 9th-tallest building in the city.
In 1954, when Providence was inundated by Hurricane Carol, much of the lobby of the Biltmore was underwater, and a plaque, eight feet up on lobby columns, commemorates the high water mark today.
In 1975 the Biltmore closed and remained out of use until a group of local businesses implemented Federal tax credits to rehabilitate the building, reopening it in 1979. The Biltmore's external glass elevator
Elevator
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
which climbs all 18 floors of the hotel was added for the 1979 re-opening.
The hotel was originally built with 600 rooms. Later, walls were knocked down and suites were created. The hotel offers 292 guestrooms. The hotel currently contains the largest Starbucks in New England, McCormick & Schmicks Restaurant, and the Spa at the Providence Biltmore.
The hotel contains banquet space of over 19000 square feet (1,765.2 m²). With a Grand Ballroom on the rooftop level, offering views of the city, that can hold up to 750, it contains space for functions such as wedding receptions or conferences.
For 71 years (until the Westin Hotel
The Westin Providence
The Westin Providence is a Neo-Traditionalist skyscraper in downtown Providence, Rhode Island, occupied by the Westin Hotel. At , it became the fourth-tallest building in the city and the state on on 15 February 2007, when the nearby slightly taller Residences at the Westin topped out...
was completed in 1993), it was the tallest and largest hotel in Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
.
Movie Backdrop
The Providence Biltmore features prominently in the 2004 Jeff Nathanson film "The Last ShotThe Last Shot
The Last Shot is a 2004 comedy film starring Matthew Broderick, Alec Baldwin, Toni Collette, Tim Blake Nelson, an uncredited Joan Cusack, Tony Shalhoub, Buck Henry, Ray Liotta, Calista Flockhart and Ian Gomez...
", and the 2007 Anne Fletcher film "27 Dresses
27 Dresses
27 Dresses is a 2008 romantic comedy film directed by Anne Fletcher and written by Aline Brosh McKenna. The film stars Katherine Heigl and James Marsden. The film was released January 10, 2008 in Australia and opened in the United States on January 18....
".
Showtime episodes of "Brotherhood" from 2004-2007 were also shot here.