White Lodging, REI Real Estate Start Austin’s Hotel Trinity

The Austin Convention Center’s impending closure is sparking a wave of development and renovations as key players in the city’s hospitality sector ensure their properties are ready.

The convention center slated for demolition next year, and a $1.6 billion replacement set to open in 2029. Developers are preparing to fill the interim gap and meet the growing demand for conference space, the Austin Business Journal reported.

One of the most prominent projects is Hotel Trinity, at East 5th and Trinity streets, which started construction last week. The 13-story, 258-key hotel by Indiana-based White Lodging and REI Real Estate is expected to open in early 2027, offering 6,000 square feet of meeting space, along with amenities like a rooftop pool, fitness center and social club.

A ground-floor restaurant will focus on seafood and other high-end cuisine, adding to the hotel’s allure as a “private hideaway” for guests, according to White Lodging.

The convention center overhaul is expected to attract large-scale conferences and events. Hotel Trinity isn’t the only project positioned as a key player in meeting the expected demand.

The AT&T Hotel and Conference Center, owned by the University of Texas, will undergo a $30 million renovation starting next spring. The renovations, timed to coincide with the convention center’s closure, will modernize the hotel’s 85,000 square feet of meeting space, adding a junior ballroom and updating audio-visual systems.

Once the convention center closes, the AT&T center expects to attract high-profile events looking for alternative venues downtown.

Other properties managed by White Lodging are also undergoing renovations to meet this demand. The Westin Austin Downtown and J.W. Marriott Austin Downtown are upgrading their meeting spaces, guest rooms and lobbies. White Lodging has brought on FVS to be the lead architect, DPR Construction to be the contractor, and FlickMars Hospitality as interior designer.

The renovations are expected to be completed sometime next year.

— Andrew Terrell