Antlers at Vail breaks ground on $5 million renovation of lobby

No stranger to making big improvements – after updating nearly every condominium suite within the hotel in recent years to achieve Vail’s highest-level Platinum lodging rating – the Antlers at Vail hotel in Vail, Colorado, has begun construction on a $5 million upgrade and expansion to the lobby and front desk area as well as replacing and relocating the elevator. The new lobby will invite natural light through additional large windows and cathedral ceiling – and will offer a comfortable gathering space for guests and intimate hotel events.

“First impressions count,” says Antlers General Manager Magda King. “We work so hard to provide the highest-quality guest experience in our condominiums and with our service. Now we will be able to match that level of excellence with our reception area” – as well as whisking guests efficiently to their suites via the new elevator.

Improvements to the Antlers at Vail front desk and reception area include creating an expansive two-story structure with vaulted ceilings that will radically improve aesthetics for guests entering the hotel while increasing check-in efficiency. And the new and improved lobby area will provide a welcoming communal environment for guests and festive alternative for special occasions.

“All of our guest suites include comfortable living areas, but as we began planning this project, we found there was still the desire for an alternative gathering and hang-out space for our guest community,” says General Manager Magda King. “Since we frequently host such interesting guests as visiting musicians with Bravo! Vail and Vail Bluegrass, we’re looking at ideas around providing some exclusive complimentary guest events in the new space – maybe adding some in-house live music to our already popular guest wine and cheese receptions, for example.”

Meanwhile, relocating and upgrading the elevator, a big but necessary project, will greatly improve the natural flow for guests to reach their 2nd, 3rd and 4th level suites.

Despite the many improvements to the hotel’s physical appearance in recent years, the Antlers at Vail property, originally built in 1971, retains some expected eccentricities of a building that has grown and evolved over nearly four decades. “The new construction is another game-changer for guest experience,” King says. “But the Antlers also provides an authentic Vail history that our guests love – which comes with some property quirks that remain part of our longer-term master plan of improvements.” At the same time, guests enjoy the hotel’s desirable heart-of-Lionshead location adjacent to Gore Creek and Vail Mountain that is equally a part of its vintage Vail character.

To offset any construction inconvenience, the Antlers at Vail is offering a Hard Hat Special that includes 30% off on the hotel’s Vail Platinum-ranked lodging now through September 30, 2019. In addition to the rarity of Rocky Mountain summer rates starting from $175 for a one-bedroom condominium, they’ll literally sweeten the deal with each reservation receiving a complimentary chocolate hammer and squishy hard hat-shaped “stress reliever.” The Antlers will be limiting occupancy during the months of construction to ensure a positive guest experience, so advance booking is advised.

While big changes are coming, many things will remain the same, such as Antlers commitment to its always-accommodating philosophy of responding to guest requests with: “the answer is yes, now what was the question?” That policy has led to the condominium hotel’s remarkable list of complimentary amenities such as year-round heated pool and hot tub, ski valet service, covered parking, Wi-Fi, Vail Athletic Club membership, electric car plug-ins, weekly yoga, and loaner bicycles, snowshoes, sleds, Go Pro Cameras and small kitchen appliances for guest use, to name a few. Antlers stays also include complimentary daily housekeeping service and NO resort fees.

The Antlers at Vail renovation is expected to be completed by December 2019, just in time to greet winter guests with a new warm welcome.