The Woodlands Resort

MAA recently completed a four-phase renovation of The Woodlands Resort Curio Collection by Hilton, located 30 miles north of downtown Houston in Montgomery County. This property represents the first Hilton Curio Resort in Texas, and the $26-million re-imagination of the popular resort included public areas—registration, lobby lounge and bar, restaurant and market, and pre-function area—and 402 guest rooms and suites. The renovation plan aimed to enhance the guest experience by upgrading various areas such as the spa, fitness center, pool, forest deck, dining room, public restrooms, bar, lounge, meeting rooms, exterior, signage, guest rooms, corridors, pool bar, game room, lobby, and fireplace area. The main objective of this undertaking is to create a welcoming and attractive environment that will encourage more guests to visit and stay at the resort.

The resort is located within The Woodlands, a master-planned community developed by visionary Houstonian George Mitchell in 1974. A highly regarded oil entrepreneur and philanthropist, Mitchell planned to create an all-encompassing, integrated community woven within the land’s prodigious natural forest environment. By 1981, The Woodlands Inn was considered an important “conference hotel” destination. The property is now much larger in scale and amenities. It is regarded as a family destination resort offering many outdoor activities, including a waterpark, golf course, tennis, and hiking paths. It is a popular choice for business conferences and events space.

In 2021, MAA was hired to conceptualize a turnkey renovation of the hotel’s major areas, bringing the architectural design and interiors up to modern standards and imbuing the spaces with a refreshed new style and palette. MAA’s team determined their primary design driver was the surrounding forested environment - flora, fauna, water, air, and light. Their inspiration was the peace, joy, and rejuvenation when guests immerse themselves in the vast property. By incorporating materials, textures, and colors throughout the woodland, the design team created a natural transition from the outdoors into the resort’s interiors.

The Spruce Lobby was given a soft mid-century modern vibe with large undivided glass windows, brick and stone architectural elements, earthy colors, and textures.

The guest room and suite renovation incorporated a new nature-infused color pallet for bedding, drapery, and carpet and added wood and stone accents to the furnishings. MAA completely redesigned and upgraded the bathrooms with new showers, tubs, flooring, countertops, mirrors, and lighting. The Grand Foyer pre-function within the event and conference wing was given a fresh contemporary infusion with seating vignettes, carpet, lighting, and artwork.

Three new dining options were added within the scope of the renovation project. Harrison’s overlooks the lake and features a wraparound patio. The two-story space offers multiple dining configurations, including a private dining room. The ambiance is sophisticated but comfortable and utilizes the same earthy nature palette: wood beams and stone architectural details, linear banquettes, leather, and floral upholstery. Spruce Market is a new casual all-day café dining option with a retail component for snacks, sundries, and beverages to go.

MAA also curated an exemplary new art program for the hotel, showcasing various talented Texas artists in a mix of genres and techniques.