As members of the Downtown Little Rock Partnership, we were invited to a sneak peek of the AC Hotel Little Rock. The concept for AC Hotels originated in Spain by Antonio Catalán. Director of sales, Kerry Thompson, walked us through the $25-million transformation of the Hall-Davidson buildings and explained how every AC Hotel strives to encourage all of their guests to mingle with the locals and get to know the community they are visiting. To facilitate this kind of socializing, the hotel will open its doors to both guests and locals each evening to convene in the large, open lounge area where small plates and beverages, including a variety of Spanish wines, will be served. Breakfast will be available each morning, served European-style and will include options like freshly sliced prosciutto, Manchego cheese, and made-to-order open-faced toasts. There is a sound-proof meeting space available that can accommodate 10 – 15 people, complete with smart TV for presentations or video conferencing.
$25-million renovation of Hall-Davidson buildings preserves historic details
Throughout the tour, she pointed to the historic features of the building that were meticulously preserved during the construction of the hotel. Some of these features include original marble walls, antique tiling, crown molding, the original Hall Building directory, and even a U.S. Mail chute, which is very rare to see these days. Guest rooms have been beautifully, yet minimally designed with the goal of creating a space that offers the utmost comfort, functionality, and charm, while also providing every space with the best view of the city as possible. This design of integrating the old with the new perfectly mirrors their concept of bringing locals and visitors together in a shared space, and in doing so, the AC Hotel has created something new to the city of Little Rock, but familiar to those who call it home.
