In a world of cookie-cutter hotels and corporate hospitality chain mega mergers, it was time to change how people feel about what constitutes a great stay. And I wanted to be the one to do it.
I built this 10-acre development—The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston—in the heart of America’s fourth-largest city to redefine what a luxury hotel experience means in the industry today.
The 38-story hotel tower boasts 250 ultra-modern guest rooms—each more than 500 square feet—and VIP suites; executive residences that can be rented on a short- or long-term basis; a two-story Rolls-Royce auto showroom; a spa, salon, and fitness center, and an elegant 35,000-sq.-ft. conference facility, including a glittering 16,000-sq.-ft. Grand Ballroom with a private entrance that now stands as the premier gathering spot for high society galas.
The demand for a luxury hotel of this caliber has existed for years in Houston. I’ve wanted to deliver a hotel like this for more than a decade, but I had to wait for the right time. When I travel around the world, I was frequently asked by my colleagues: Why is there not a luxury hotel in Houston?
Meet The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston
Upon entering the three-story glass lobby, guests will be mesmerized by a cascading, custom-built grand chandelier complete with 15,719 crystals, including 739 Swarovski crystal balls and 1,428 LED light sources.
The lobby, with custom Calcutta marble flooring, Ebony Woodridge stone pillars, custom fabric wall panels, a hand-tufted silk abstract rug, and works of art from Frank Stella—now dubbed the “Stella Lobby”—also provides a floor-to-ceiling view of the pool area. Other works of art from our private collection include pieces by Robert Motherwell, Alex Katz, Donald Sultan, Joseph Glasco, Friedel Dzubas, and Howard Hodgkin, which are strategically placed throughout the hotel and lend it a museum-quality feel.
Other unique features include an on-site Bentley and Bugatti dealership; a massive wine cellar with more than $3M of inventory including rare vintages dating back to the 1800s; the library’s curated collection of books from Assouline Publishing; our designer boutique 29° North with first-to-Texas brands for men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, fine jewelry, accessories, and seasonal selections; a chic salon; a luxurious spa; and a state-of-the-art fitness center.
We are on track to receive the state’s first Forbes Five Star rating, which reflects the level of quality, service, and accommodations we provide all of our guests. Even before your arrival, our staff will contact you to ensure we have everything ready for you such as preferred room temperature, allergy notifications, and any necessary travel arrangements.
Our 5,000-sq.-ft. Presidential Suite starts at $12,000 per night and features a wraparound terrace with panoramic views of the Houston skyline, direct helipad access, private elevator access, a fitness room, a media room, a catering kitchen, large walk-in closets, and much more. This is a true retreat, designed to be more like a luxurious private residence than a hotel room. Additionally, the Penthouse suite, the most opulent of them all, offers a two-story, 10,000-sq.-ft. expanse of unmatched luxury starting at $100,000 per night.
We thought of every detail for the guest rooms. A standard room offers three TVs, a Nespresso coffee maker, oversized Egyptian towels, and a tablet that controls the room’s functions. One button can close the shades, while another dims the lighting. The closets include short hanging areas to accommodate men’s shirts and long hanging areas for dresses and skirts. Even the ironing boards are built in.
Our average daily rate is expected to be about $100 higher than the next highest competitor in Houston. Still, its cost per room is hundreds of dollars lower than similar hotels in New York or Los Angeles. If you want to stay here, you have to pay for it. Nobody else has a bathroom or a room like ours in Houston.
Four signature restaurants and bars on the first floor provide a wide array of dining choices, from fresh-baked pastries to haute cuisine. The dining offerings promise such an elevated level of culinary excellence that the hotel will also attract Houstonians looking for the newest and best the city’s food scene has to offer. The hotel’s main restaurant, Bloom & Bee, emphasizes fresh locally inspired cuisine while H Bar serves up light bites with fine spirits, exotic cocktails, and libations. Craft F&B offers pub-style fare like wood-fired pizzas, burgers, and craft brews; Bouchée Patisserie serves specialty coffee, freshly baked pastries, and Parisian-inspired indulgences.
Adjacent to the hotel are our two premier restaurants, Mastro’s Steakhouse and Willie G’s Seafood. Since opening its first Texas location in late 2017, Mastro’s has become the gathering spot for the glamorous see-and-be-seen crowd. Willie G’s Seafood, a local institution, features a breathtaking array of fresh seafood on display, from whole Gold Spot sea bass to gigantic Maine lobsters and fresh-shucked Gulf oysters. It also offers dining options ranging from casual and white tablecloth service to an outdoor terrace.
More Than Just Another Business Venture
This was a special project for me. There’s been a roughly three-decade gap since a hotel like this was built in Houston. The closest competitors are now older and aren’t in line with expectations of high-end hotels today. I can assure you, this hotel will never go out of style.
I look to this hotel as more of a generational property that will stay in my family forever. That’s what I do. I’m not a seller. I’m not looking at this short-term. I’m not looking at what it’s going to make its first year; my interest is what it’s going to be worth in 25 years.
