The Driskill Hotel—part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, in Austin, Texas—will undergo a complete renovation in advance of its 140th anniversary with the first phase debuting in the fall.
The transformation of Texas’ first luxury hotel and 1886 landmark was announced by Pixiu Investments, Woodbine Development and Hyatt Hotels. The redo will include 175 guestrooms, the lobby and common areas, meeting and social spaces and culinary venues with the addition of a new ballroom, cocktail bar and curated retail space. This new era will be ushered in by Dallas-based SWOON, the Studio, a design and branding team.
“Pixiu and Woodbine purchased The Driskill with a commitment to stewarding it for generations to come,” T. Dupree Scovell, managing partner at Woodbine, said in a statement. “In addition to preserving this Texas treasure’s storied legacy and unique traditions, this historic renovation will bring Texans together from all over the state to enjoy the Grand Dame of our state in fresh and new ways. Whether our guests come to the property for a meal, a meeting or a momentous occasion, this transformation is going to elevate the experience they have with us, as well as the caliber of the memories they take away. We couldn’t be more excited about that.”
Phase One
The first phase of the renovation will debut this fall and will include the reimagined Driskill Bar and Driskill Grill, as well as a newly concepted bar, The Victorian—both operated by Austin-based MML Hospitality. The project will also include the 110 Tower guestrooms originally built in 1929, a refreshed fitness center and a new 2,800-square-foot ballroom on the Mezzanine Level.
The second phase—to be completed in the summer of 2026— will include the hotel lobby, grand staircase and original guestroom tower of 74 historic rooms, as well as the debut of a curated retail space named for the hotel’s general manager and founding family children, Stark & Sisters. The Driskill’s transformation will culminate in tandem with its 140th anniversary in December 2026.
An extension of the project is the new partnership between The Driskill and Austin-based MML Hospitality, which will oversee all food and beverage operations for the hotel beginning in August and will debut several new concepts.