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DETROIT -- Almost a quarter-century since it closed its doors and after two years of renovation, the Westin Book Cadillac has finally opened its doors on Monday, where there were numerous tours that included 300 people who had a history with their hotel -- having their first wedding, staying there for the first time, and so on, as they came to see how the Westin is now.

AmericaJR.com was given the opportunity Wednesday afternoon to have a tour of the hotel, which included a look at the Venetian Ballroom on the fourth floor, where you can see Washington Boulevard from up there. Reproduced by pictures, the room looks as if the President of the United States is coming to the Motor City or watching an opera from one of the balconies, but unlike the good old days, there is no way to get up there. The Venetian was formerly called the Grand Ballroom, and is now used for board meetings, weddings, etc. -- being created as "a labor of love".

The tour continued with the showing of the pool and fitness center on the first floor, along with the Motor Bar -- now on the second floor -- which is being called "a popular place for people to meet" as well as "relax, meet, and have a drink". The hotel is still in construction with the privately owned restaurant of Iron Chef celebrity Michael Symon's Roast, opening two weeks from Tuesday -- serving meat, pork, and so forth.

The original 33-floor Book Cadillac was built at a cost of $14 million with 1,136 guestrooms on floors 7-29.

Today, the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel is 31 floors high. There are 455 guest rooms that cost around $200 per night on weekends and $300 per night during the week.

Each floor has a Presidential Suite with a living room and television set on one side and the bedroom on the next. The rooms have either king-sized (one bed, one room) or double (two beds, one room) bedrooms (all have the same quality) with a Plasma, High-Defintion TV set, a DVD player, a refreshment center of snacks and beverages (you'll have a key when checking in), and Internet access (costs $16.95 per day).

In addition, 67 privately-owned condos are being sold by Esquire Properties at a cost around $400,000 each. It was hit on the newswire Tuesday that National City Bank has announced the closing of the first sale of a condo unit.

"As the lead investor in the Book Cadillac renovation, with over $38 million invested, and as the presenting sponsor of the October 25 grand opening gala", said Michigan branch president David Boyle, "we are proud to announce this milestone, which establishes a new residental value for condo sales in the city. Over the past 10 years, National City has been at the forefront in community development for downtown Detroit and the surrounding neighborhoods. We welcome our responsibility to lead the way as a partner in our city's renaissance."

Six penthouses are located at the top of the hotel on floors 29-31. They were sold at more than $1 million each.

ABOUT THE WESTIN BOOK CADILLAC

The Westin Book Cadillac opened in 1924 and earned the nicknames "the Fifth Avenue of the Midwest" and "the grand lady of Washington Boulevard". Located on Michigan Avenue and Washington Boulevard in downtown Detroit, it became the tallest hotel in the world with 33 floors and 1,136 guestrooms. The Westin had a role in the 1948 film State of the Union with Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn, and Angela Lansberry. Famous guests of the hotel included the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, Frank "Old Blue Eyes" Sinatra, Joe Louis, and Tommy "the Hit Man" Hearns.

The hotel, however, went through both financial setbacks and ownership changes in its latter years -- renamed as the Sheraton and then the Radisson until closing the doors in 1984 and liquidating its assets two years later. After planning for two years, Cleveland's The Ferchill Group started working with the leaders of Detroit's economy in 2006 to develop a financial package of a redevelopment plan -- leading to a signed management contract with Starwood Hotels & Resorts to bring back "the grand lady"; construction began last year.

For more information, go to www.bookcadillacwestin.com.

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

The Westin Book Cadillac is located at Michigan Avenue and Washington Boulevard.

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

Lights inside the Motor Bar on the second floor.

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

People are sitting inside the Motor Bar.

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

More seating outside the bar area.

 

PHOTO BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com

A look at the lobby area and the check-in desk on the second floor.

 

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