The historic 349-room Eden Roc in Miami Beach, designed by architect Morris Lapidus, is in the midst of a $170 million upgrade, adding a 21-story, 283-room tower and renovating the existing one. Two new pillarless ballrooms are being created, along with an additional rooftop terrace that can be tented. The ballrooms will feature a combined total of more than 14,000 square feet of glass wall overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway. A lush rooftop garden area offers a chic “sky bar.” The hotel closed April 2007 and is scheduled to reopen in October 2008; the new tower is scheduled to open in late 2008. Guests have access to a 228-square-foot private yacht; the Indies Spa offers treatments inspired by the Florida Keys.

Toronto Congress Centre

Toronto, Ontario

The News: In just a year, the facility's trade and convention space will have grown to more than one million square feet, making it the largest convention facility in Canada.

Specs: Located north of the existing Toronto Congress Centre, the expansion includes a massive lobby area, an additional 500,000 square feet of exhibition space, including 40 meeting rooms; and a 25,000-square-foot ballroom to be completed later this year.

Time Frame: The first show in the new facility is scheduled for February 2008; the official opening will take place in April.

Westfields Marriott

Chantilly, Va.

The News: A $2.3 million renovation to 15,000 square feet of its grand ballrooms

Specs: The ballroom renovations are the first completed phase of the property's $10 million renovation, its largest investment since opening in 1990.

Time Frame: Ballroom renovations were completed in September 2007. A $5.8 million renovation of guest rooms began in December and $1 million will be invested in the lobby and great room in the first quarter of 2009.

News Makers:

• Rosen Hotels & Resorts in Orlando has named Patrick Anderson to mid-Atlantic national sales manager, responsible for the association market, for Rosen's three Orlando properties.

• The Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association has hired Heather Trent as senior sales manager in its Washington, D.C., satellite office. She had been with the Denver Metro CVB.