Brand New In Cambridge, MA, the 210-room University Park Hotel at MIT topped out in September. The property, which is scheduled to open next summer, offers the Executive Conference Center on its third floor, with a business center and 15,500 square feet of meeting space (including a rooftop garden).

With a totem pole at its entry and hickory and pine furnishing, the new Heathman Lodge in Vancouver, WA, just across the Columbia River from Portland, OR, might at first glance seem like camp. But luxury and technology upgrade the 121 rooms and 22 suites into an executive meeting site worth a close look. Rooms include Jacuzzi tubs, robes, two-line phones, data ports, and voice mail. The property can host meetings of up to 400 persons in its 6,000 square feet of meeting space.

Twenty minutes from Miami International Airport, The Ritz-Carlton, Coconut Grove will open in mid-1999 with 250 rooms and suites, a 12,000-square-foot ballroom, and six meeting rooms.

Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel opened in November with 502-rooms and not a single slot machine. It's attached to the new Atlantic City Center by covered skywalk.

New Identities Patriot American Hospitality's acquisition of Wyndham Hotel Corporation was completed in early January, bringing with it changes for some Patriot American properties. The recently acquired The Buttes Resort in Tempe, AZ, for example, will now be called The Buttes--A Wyndham Resort and will get $5 million for renovating guest rooms and common areas. The Buttes offers 30,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, including a 140-seat amphitheater. Another Patriot American hotel, Crowne Plaza Miami-Biscayne Bay converted in November to the Wyndham Hotel Miami-Biscayne Bay.

As of mid-October, the Sheraton Key Largo (FL) Beach Resort became the Westin Beach Resort, Key Largo. The 200-room property offers a beach, marina, swimming pools, two tennis courts, access to a nearby golf course, and approximately 8,800 square feet of meeting space.

Marriott Riverwalk and Marriott Rivercenter: It can be tough to keep the two San Antonio properties straight. But now the distinctions may not be so important. The hotels will now be marketed together, giving planners one contact person for both hotels. Employees in sales, customer service, and food and beverage will also work together. Combined, the properties have 1,500 rooms and 70,000 square feet of meeting space. (And by the way, it's the Rivercenter that's adjacent to the mall.)

Under Construction Hilton Hotels Corporation broke ground in September on a 600-room property at Boston's Logan International Airport. When the $100 million Logan Airport Hilton and Towers opens in fall 1999, the ten-story property will offer 30,000 square feet of meeting space.

Omni Hotels opened the 360-room Omni New Haven (CT) Hotel at Yale this January with 22 meeting rooms and a 9,200-square-foot ballroom. The property can host conferences for 500 persons.