The upgrade is needed for The Latham to be competitive, he said. Currently, it "does not provide the food and beverage amenity, and certainly, by providing [that] component, it provides for a better experience. . . ."
Varley declined to put a price on the renovation other than to say it was a "multimillion-dollar" refurbishing, only the second renovation since Ocean Properties acquired The Latham in 1995.
Ocean Properties selected BLT Architects to redesign The Latham's lobby, restaurant, and lounge spaces, while the Keating Group will redo all 138 rooms, including several that will be converted into suites. Both companies are based in Philadelphia.
The 130 guest rooms are first on the list to be redone, Varley said, followed by the lobby. The final concept for the restaurant is still being worked on, he added.
The six-month renovation, which began Jan. 3, is scheduled to be completed in June. During the work, 30 rooms will be used to honor bookings previously made.
"We had commitments, and we do need to house people who are coming and going who are involved in the project," Varley said.
An architectural and historic landmark, The Latham Hotel was constructed as a 14-story apartment house in 1915, on the original site of the home of William Bucknell, the philanthropist who founded Bucknell University.
The building operated as apartments until the late 1960s, when a small group of wealthy businessmen converted it into The Latham Hotel just as many investors were turning hotels into condominiums.
In August 1970, The Latham opened to the public and quickly earned a good reputation among business travelers, according to hospitality experts. The European-style boutique hotel offered luxury rooms, along with the most modern conveniences of the day.
