The Woodlands Gets a Fancy New Hotel: Scenery and an Ambitious Restaurant Are Just the Start

For those who live in Houston’s inner loop, The Woodlands may seem like a distant destination, visited only during treks to Dallas. But for many, the town is a burgeoning area of growth and opportunity. The Woodlands is currently one of the fastest growing locales in the country, home to an array of corporate campuses, including ExxonMobile’s behemoth new complex, which approaches 3 million square feet in size.

Additionally, The Woodlands’ heavily stocked retail offerings, developing restaurant row and forthcoming high-rise development — Treviso at Waterway — demonstrate that the area is booming. So it should come as no surprise that a major hotel chain has selected the area as home for a property.

Say hello to The Westin The Woodlands — a 13-story luxury development from The Howard Hughes Corporation. The hotel, which is scheduled to make its debut in February, will be situated on The Woodlands Waterway — a scenic canal and path system that runs through downtown (Riva Row Boat House, The Woodlands Mall and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion are other Waterway landmarks).

“Since the inception of this pivotal project by The Howard Hughes Corporation, our goal has not only been to serve the increasing numbers of discerning travelers coming to The Woodlands, but also to create an iconic destination property that rewards visitors through the Starwood Preferred Guest program and sets a new standard for the region with amenities that will inspire well-being and further enhance and benefit the community,” explains general manager Mike Speicher.

Designed by Dallas-based waldrop+nichols studio, the hotel’s scenic surroundings are transferred to the interior of the 302-room property through the use of materials including natural wood, bronze and leather.

Guest rooms include bedside light controls, blackout shades and laptop inputs, plus spa-inspired bathrooms enclosed in walnut sliding doors. The hotel’s second-floor houses a 1,200-square-foot workout studio (featuring chilled towel service, disposable earbuds and mobile workout tracking capabilities), a sun terrace, a vanishing-edge pool and a full-service bar.

The hotel will also be home to Current, a 150-seat restaurant with private dining rooms and a demonstration kitchen.

In addition to The Westin The Woodlands, The Howard Hughes Corporation recently opened Hughes Landing (also in The Woodlands), a mixed-use development that includes a Whole Foods Market, waterfront Restaurant Row and a soon-to-open Embassy Suites.