Anchored in the rolling meadows of Central Texas, a bright and shining star of hospitality has emerged in the Bryan/College Station area. Built in a town rich in tradition, The Stella beams as an establishment that evokes the comforting memories of true southern hospitality while simultaneously encouraging the reality of modern, progressive nature.

To celebrate its tenth anniversary in March, Grand Hyatt San Antonio rolled out the carpet – the plush indigo carpet that is, one of many fresh features in its recently remodeled guest rooms. The updates are part of a $19 million project completed earlier this year that includes renovations of the rooms and suites, corridors, lobby, bar, and meeting spaces.

Imagine the early 20th century, a time when etiquette reigned supreme and courtesies such as formal greetings and hand-written letters were highly valued, when language was carefully crafted and eloquent. Well-known American families, including the Vanderbilts and Guggenheims set trends when it came to decorum as well as décor. In the year 1900 in Austin, Texas the Wootens were such a family. The University of Texas remembers them well, as Thomas Dudley Wooten was one of the founders of UT Austin. It was his son, Goodall, who married a distinguished socialite named Ella Newsome, the woman who is the inspiration as well as the heart and soul behind this historic boutique hotel, Hotel Ella.

The building that is now the Lorenzo Hotel, a newly renovated boutique hotel in downtown Dallas, sat empty and unused for years. “It was a Ramada Inn back when it opened in ’71,” explained Larry Hamilton, CEO of the property. “It’s worthy of a historical footnote as the place where Tina Turner split from Ike while in Dallas for a concert.”

The hotel is a unique boutique hotel with a first floor that contains the lobby, Bar Saint George, LaVenture restaurant, Marfa Book Company, and a historic wine room, while the three floors above it are entirely new.