The DoubleTree hotel in Colorado Springs has gotten an $8.5 million makeover.

The hotel, 1775 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd., completed a three-stage renovation at the end of June.  DoubleTree hotels are typically renovated every four to six years in order to keep up with company standards and stay on top of the competition.

The first stage focused on exterior renovations, including replacing the sign with DoubleTree’s new logo and painting a matching trim on the hotel’s exterior. New patio furniture was also added.

In 2011, meeting areas were renovated, with new carpets, lighting and wireless Internet. During the final stage of the renovation this past spring, guest rooms were redone, with new furniture, carpeting, tiling and wallpaper. Thirty-seven-inch LCD TVs were added, and all lighting was replaced by more efficient bulbs, including LEDs and compact fluorescents.

“It was the biggest project because they took the guest rooms down to nothing,” said director of sales and marketing Jeff Howell. “They started from scratch.”

The last phase of the project was the most expensive and time consuming.

“It was to freshen up the look of the rooms, and make them warmer and more inviting,” Howell said.

The new look comes as the DoubleTree and other area hotels are still feeling the effect of the Waldo Canyon fire, which erupted during the middle of the summer tourism season.

“It’s affected the attendance of big groups,” Howell said. “Where we’ve really seen the change is in weekend travel and family travel. It’s not quite as strong as it was at this time last year, but hopefully we have time to rebound. With the added marketing, the city has done an outstanding job of getting the word out that Colorado Springs is open for business.”

The DoubleTree hotel finished a three-stage renovation this summer. Photo by BILL RADFORD, THE GAZETTE