The Hotel Paso Del Norte in Downtown will become a Marriott Autograph Collection Hotel

The Hotel Paso Del Norte, one of El Paso’s largest and most historic hotels, will operate as a Marriott Autograph Collection Hotel, according to the Meyers Group, which is leading the restoration of the landmark hotel.

The historic 17-story hotel, which once operated as the Camino Real Hotel, was purchased in October by the Meyers Group, a Florida-based real estate development company.

Architect Kobi Karp said the Marriott Autograph brand “allows you to focus on the individual project, which is the reason Marriott is promoting the historic building to be in its portfolio as the building has a rich history and is an integral part of the community of El Paso.”

The Meyers Group also released new renderings today along with an announcement that the renovation design has received global recognition.

Miami-based Kobi Karp Architecture and Interior Design was awarded first prize in the “Creative Spark” competition at the TOPHOTELPROJECTS World Tour 2017 for the design of the renovation, according to the announcement.

Redesign plans for the hotel include the restoration of the original 10th floor rooftop, which will include a ballroom, pool lounge, full-service spa and gym. Also, a bar room next to the rooftop terrace will be expanded to overlook the Franklin Mountains, the El Paso skyline and Juárez.

Some of the latest renderings show an outdoor terrace at the entrance of the hotel. They also show the restoration of the old Dome Bar, which is located on first floor beneath the iconic Tiffany-style stained glass dome.

The redesign plans incorporate copper, brass and deep burnished leathers to compliment the traditional look of the historic hotel.

The 100-year-old hotel was designed by famed Southwest architect Henry Trost in the early 1900s, but over the years, it has fallen into disrepair. The building was in such bad condition it prompted convention and tourism officials in El Paso to tell the former owners that it could no longer recommend the hotel to visitors.

Local investors, including El Paso billionaire Paul Foster, had attempted to buy the building only to have deals fall apart.

But in 2016, Stuart Meyers, a real estate investor from Miami, and his son Josh Meyers approached Grupo Empresarial Ángeles, the hotel’s former owner. A deal was made, and a $70 million renovation put the gears in motion to restore the hotel to its former grandeur.

In April, El Paso City Council voted to approve an incentive agreement to support the hotel’s restoration. The agreement requires the Meyers Group to spend $70 million in private investment, which would qualify the developer for a package of tax incentives that total more than $32 million to completely renovate the historic hotel.

The hotel was completed with 195 rooms in 1912. In 1986, a 17-story building was built adjacent to the existing hotel, increasing its room capacity to 356 rooms.

Architectural renderings provided by the Meyers Group.

Email El Paso Inc. reporter Aaron Montes at amontes@elpasoinc.com or call (915) 534-4422, ext. 105