Pantlind Hotel In the early 1900s, Grand Rapids was growing rapidly, the population reaching over 112,000 in 1910. As the city grew, iconic grand-scale buildings began to arise. When the hotel opened in 1913, the
Beaux-Arts architecture attracted many, with visitors convening in Grand Rapids choosing the Pantlind Hotel during the city's furniture shows. The Pantlind featured one of the largest
gold leaf ceilings in the world, with the hotel having a Mediterranean atmosphere that was seen in its classical columns and terra cotta designs. By 1925, the Pantlind Hotel was gaining national recognition after it was named as one of America's top 10 hotels.
Amway Grand Plaza Tower The
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel Tower, originally the Pantlind Hotel, is a 29-story, 318-foot-tall tower that opened in 1983. The tower was constructed following a renovation project of the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel initiated by
Rich DeVos. that was described by
The New York Times as being "extensive". On September 15, 1981, the renovated Pantlind Hotel, now known as Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, opened. Other guests who have stayed at the hotel include political figures and officials such as British Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher,
Queen Noor of Jordan and General
Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. as well as celebrities such as
James Earl Jones,
Cher,
Joe Montana,
Faye Dunaway, and
Jerry Seinfeld The 1913 Room, which closed in 2011, was the only restaurant in Michigan to be awarded five diamonds by the
American Automobile Association. Starting in 2011, the hotel started an effort to rebrand first with replacing the 1913 Room restaurant with a
Ruth's Chris Steak House. In May 2015, Cygnus 27 restaurant had changed its menu to a Latin one. The Cornucopia and Bentham's restaurants were redone as Wolfgang Puck restaurants opening the fall of 2015. Prior to 2016, the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel was affiliated with the
Preferred Hotels & Resorts reservation system. In 2016, the hotel became a part of the
Curio Collection by Hilton reservation system.
Grand River Promenade The Grand River Promenade, the official name for the
skyway, is on the hotel's second floor as well as the hotel's parking ramp. ==Gallery==