I was honored to be a part of The Summit’s Grand Opening celebration and am so happy I attended. The morning after, we (OHLA) hosted our Greater Cincinnati Lodging Council meeting here too. I got to be a guest and a host within 24 hours!
Let me tell you, The Summit, knows how to throw a party. From the lobby to the 4th floor restaurant and event space, there was action. The staff was certainly on their toes for the event but I could easily tell they were thrilled to have guests and their hospitality was outpouring.
Wow, the hotel looks great! What a difference a month makes! (Those of you who have opened a new hotel, know how the little things sometimes take a couple weeks to fall into place!)
At the time of my last visit the art exhibition event space had no art quite yet. They do now! I walked through and took a peek and took a few photos to share with all of you! I just love that this is inside of a hotel. After checking out the art, I continued to walk through the lobby to their first floor nourishment hub of sorts. It was decorated with Victorian styled hats, reminiscent of a vintage tea party. Here they had a local tea company featuring their hot beverages along with mini bundt cakes (Nothing Bundt Cakes, of course!).
Though I was enjoying my time wandering around the first floor, from what I heard, the main event was in their ballroom. I hopped onto the speedy elevator and up to the 4th floor I went! I was greeted with a cocktail, lovingly named Maxine. (Remember, I mentioned Maxwell? We are getting there.) It was a local twist on the classic French 75.
The ballroom was lined with local vendors who are also featured in their menus for The Market and Overlook Kitchen and Bar. Everything I had the opportunity to taste was fresh, innovative, and LOCAL. The service staff was on their toes and extremely warm and inviting. I always appreciate true hospitality. There was a DJ and local BBQ on their outdoor space. (The Summit has more outdoor space than many hotels I have been to. It is ideal for lounging, working, or an event!)
After trying EVERYTHING, it was time for bed. I moseyed into my room and realized there was something new in my room (Pay Attention! This is about Maxwell.) that I did not have during my last visit. Maxwell, the cutest gold statue of a balloon animal dog.
The golden mascot was named after the hotel owner’s beloved golden retriever. Upon his passing, his owner made a donation to a local nonprofit in his honor. Maxwell is joined at the hotel by his trusty red companion, Maxine. (Best part? The adorable statues are available for purchase and 10% of all purchases are donated to the United Pet Fund.)
Rise and shine! The next morning, I went to breakfast in The Market which offered so many amazing choices including salmon, strawberry French toast (Yes, topped with cream and fresh strawberries!), eggs, and the list goes on. Sadly, I am relatively boring, and had fresh fruit, yogurt and coffee. Our meeting was soon underway and I cannot say enough about the attentive team! Our space was perfect with a lot of windows and natural light.
I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to visit The Summit again and take it all in. I still did not get to dine in their (now open) Overlook Kitchen & Bar, however, it looks like I have an excuse to start planning my next visit!
Until Next Time,
Lauren
We went on to order a Caesar salad, stuffed calamari, and the seasonal risotto. (I like to say that Sean is a Caesar Salad Connoisseur of sorts as he always must order one if there is one to be had. He was thrilled that he didn’t have to ask for anchovies, they were already included! It’s the little things…) Everything was delicious, but don’t worry, we both saved room for our next stop… Young’s Jersey Dairy.
The front wrap around veranda is welcoming and completely charming! Throughout the hotel there are darling paintings of CORGIS (yes, the adorable fluffy dog), a corgi carousel, and corgi stuffed animals in the gift shop! (Fun Fact: the owner of the hotel has a corgi, hence the significance. In addition, he is fantastic with woodworking. Throughout the hotel, several of the wooden pieces were handcrafted by him!) I enjoyed an excellent breakfast in Ellie’s Restaurant & Bakery (the breakfast croissant was delicious!) and then I had to bid adieu and off to work I went.
Off of the main lobby there is a large art exhibition room. The focal point of the space is a standing, circular, structure that has video boards around the inside, and if you stand in the middle you feel you are a part of the movement.
Walking through the hotel, I couldn’t help but to take a minute to have a seat in one of the many lounge areas. Everything is artfully placed by mixing colors, textures, lighting, and of course, pieces of art! The seating areas are inviting, and you feel there is a greater community vibe in the air.
As I walked away from my car and towards the timeless brick home, I immediately felt at ease. I opened the black iron gate to allow myself up the steps and to the brick sidewalk that wrapped around the home (the Guest House sits in the rear lawn of the beautiful 1800’s brick home where the owners reside). Speaking of the owners, I was warmly greeted by Lisa, and was so excited to have the opportunity to relax in this urban oasis.
Though I couldn’t quite keep my hard hat on, I was able to get some great photos from the property. Walking into the main lobby, I was immediately greeted with an unprecedented accent wall behind the front desk; an American flag made of wooden pallets and special lighting.
The hotel sits comfortably within the Northside District of downtown Akron. As I got out of my car, I couldn’t help but to take time and look around their immediate area. Just steps from the hotel was a pizza shop, a clay and art studio, an ultra-modern restaurant and a few other establishments I would have loved to explore.
