More than 500 percent attended Atlanta’s Downtown Development Day at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, where the Ellis Hotel received the Design Excellence Award in the Hotel category. The award recognize design excellence in newly created spaces in Downtown Atlanta. The Ellis Hotel completed a $28 million renovation last October. (left to right)  A.J. Robinson, President of Central Atlanta Progress Inc., Chris Parsons, Director of Sales, The Ellis Hotel, Ron Stang, President, Stevens & Wilkinson Stang & Newdow, Inc. and Nikki Villella, Sales Manager, The Ellis Hotel.

The 127-room Ellis Hotel in downtown Atlanta has received the 2008 Atlanta Downtown Design Excellence Award in the Hotel category. The awards, now in its third year, are presented by Central Atlanta Progress, an urban improvement organization, recognize newly created Downtown Atlanta spaces that demonstrate excellence in design.  The Ellis recently completed a comprehensive $28 million dollar restoration last October. Formerly the Winecoff Hotel, extensive renovations to The Ellis included reconstructing its original air terrace into the Ellis’ E Street Grille balcony seating and preserving the historical integrity of upper level floors while enlarging the room size. “The Ellis is dedicated to restoring and revitalizing Atlanta’s downtown,” said Stacy Martin, General Manger of the hotel. “We are very proud to receive this recognition by Central Atlanta Progress.” Earlier this year the hotel also won an award from Atlanta’s Urban Design Commission for historic preservation. An elegant boutique hotel, the Ellis features two stylish meeting rooms, a modern board room, high-speed wireless internet and 2,200 square feet of Event & Meeting Space, The Ellis is easily accessible to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the Georgia Tech Global Learning & Conference Center, the Georgia World Congress Center, the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center, and only 10 miles from the Georgia International Convention Center.