Omni Hotel is a game-changer
By: J. David Chapman/January 28, 2021
Oklahoma City’s largest hotel, The Omni, opened this week. The 605-room, 17-story Omni was designed to, and serves as, the convention-hotel to the new OKC Convention Center. The 605 rooms include 29 suites, two on each floor, and larger suites ranging from 1,527 to 2,178 square feet on the top floor.
The $288 million convention center project was funded by the MAPS 3 capital improvements program approved in December 2009. This center has a total of 500,000 SF and includes a 200,730-SF exhibit hall, which is divisible into four halls; a versatile 29,874-SF ballroom, 45,000 SF of meeting space, a 9,726-SF junior ballroom, and 65,000 SF of pre-function space. The state-of-the-art building is east of Scissortail Park along Robinson Avenue and is served by the OKC Streetcar.
I’m confident that Omni General Manager Steve Keenan would have liked to have opened the Omni under different circumstances. However, operators are certainly ready to make the best of the situation. They are focusing on local patrons “staycationing” while the industry recovers from effects of the pandemic. The hotel opened Tuesday with 40 rooms booked and looking forward to robust bookings as Valentine’s Day approaches.
The hotel opened with four food and beverage operations. A two-story sports bar featuring local craft beer called OKC Tap House will always have your game, favorite beer and outdoor seating on both floors. For those craving a great steak, Bob’s Steak & Chop House would be your choice. For that meeting with a colleague, give Park Grounds coffee shop a try. The stylish, yet welcoming lobby bar and lounge is called the Basin Bar and features local craft beers, high-end wines, and a selection of regionally inspired small plates.
If the food is not enough to encourage a staycation, consider the Mokara Spa, fitness center, and pool. A relaxing oasis awaits guests with a full-service spa experience, including soothing facials, body treatments, massages, manicures and pedicures. A fully equipped, modern fitness center is free to guests. Located on the third floor, guests are treated to natural lighting and an awesome view of the city while working out. Probably my favorite amenity is the expansive rooftop pool deck terrace, also located on the hotel’s third floor. During the day, guests enjoy private cabanas, and at night the relaxing vibe of the poolside fireplace. The pool bar will be open later in the year and be named the Catbird Seat featuring an inventive menu of craft cocktails and delectable food selections, while sliding glass doors allow for the unpredictable Oklahoma weather. All this with a scenic view of Scissortail Park and the downtown skyline.
If this sounds like a commercial for this hotel and convention center, that’s because I am a big fan. This combo of full-service hotel and state-of-the-art convention center is going to work together to be a game-changer for the OKC metropolitan area.
J. David Chapman is an associate professor of finance and real estate at the University of Central Oklahoma (jchapman7@uco.edu).