Amway Grand Plaza Hotel
Encyclopedia
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan
and is named after Amway
Corporation, which is based in nearby Ada Township
.
Originally known as The Pantlind Hotel (founded in 1913), Amway Grand Plaza Hotel reopened in 1981 after extensive renovations done by Marvin DeWinter & Associates including the addition of a 29 story glass tower. The Pantlind was fashioned after Englishman Robert Adams architecture by designers Warren & Wetmore and in its prime was rated as one of the top ten hotels in the US. The hotel is home to several well-known restaurants in Grand Rapids, such as Cygnus and the 1913 Room, Michigan's only AAA
Five Diamond Award
restaurant.
The hotel is owned by Amway Hotel Collection, a subsidiary of Amway's holding company Alticor
.
The Grand River Promenade, the official name for the skyway
, goes between the DeVos Place Convention Center
and the Van Andel Arena
. The skyway is on the hotel's second floor as well as the hotel's parking ramp.
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
and is named after Amway
Amway
Amway is a direct selling company and manufacturer that uses network marketing to sell a variety of products, primarily in the health, beauty, and home care markets. Amway was founded in 1959 by Jay Van Andel and Richard DeVos...
Corporation, which is based in nearby Ada Township
Ada Township, Michigan
Ada Township is a civil township of Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 9,882. Ada is the corporate home of Alticor and its subsidiary companies Quixtar and Amway.- Communities :...
.
Originally known as The Pantlind Hotel (founded in 1913), Amway Grand Plaza Hotel reopened in 1981 after extensive renovations done by Marvin DeWinter & Associates including the addition of a 29 story glass tower. The Pantlind was fashioned after Englishman Robert Adams architecture by designers Warren & Wetmore and in its prime was rated as one of the top ten hotels in the US. The hotel is home to several well-known restaurants in Grand Rapids, such as Cygnus and the 1913 Room, Michigan's only AAA
American Automobile Association
AAA , formerly known as the American Automobile Association, is a federation of 51 independently operated motor clubs throughout North America. AAA is a not-for-profit member service organization with more than 51 million members. AAA provides services to its members such as travel, automotive,...
Five Diamond Award
Five Diamond award
The AAA Five Diamond Award is the highest level of the AAA Diamond Ratings System for restaurants and lodgings administered by AAA ....
restaurant.
The hotel is owned by Amway Hotel Collection, a subsidiary of Amway's holding company Alticor
Alticor
Alticor is a privately held corporation, owned and run by members of the DeVos and Van Andel families. It was established in 1999 to serve as the parent company for a handful of business ventures, most notably the direct selling company Amway and Quixtar and a manufacturing and distribution...
.
Grand River Promenade
Skyway
In an urban setting, a skyway, catwalk, sky bridge, or skywalk is a type of pedway consisting of an enclosed or covered bridge between two buildings. This protects pedestrians from the weather. These skyways are usually owned by businesses, and are therefore not public spaces...
, goes between the DeVos Place Convention Center
DeVos Place Convention Center
DeVos Place Convention Center, erected in 2003 on the Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA, is a multi-purpose convention center. It is named for Richard DeVos, who donated $20 million towards its construction....
and the Van Andel Arena
Van Andel Arena
The Van Andel Arena is a 10,834-seat multi-purpose arena, situated in the Heartside district, of Grand Rapids, Michigan. After a $75 million construction effort, the arena opened on October 8, 1996 and since has attracted over five million patrons. It is home to the popular Grand Rapids Griffins...
. The skyway is on the hotel's second floor as well as the hotel's parking ramp.
Trivia
- In honor of U.S. President FordGerald FordGerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
, one of the ballrooms in the hotel is named after him. - Until September 2008, The RapidInterurban Transit PartnershipThe Interurban Transit Partnership operates a public transport system called The Rapid, which provides bus service to the Grand Rapids, Michigan metropolitan area and beyond...
ran the Grand Rapids Air Porter - a shuttle between the hotels in downtown Grand Rapids and the Gerald R. Ford International AirportGerald R. Ford International AirportGerald R. Ford International Airport is a commercial airport located approximately southeast of Grand Rapids, Michigan in Cascade Township. Originally called Kent County Airport and later Kent County International Airport; in December 1999 the airport was renamed for former resident Gerald R....
. Routes 9 Alpine, Route 11 Plainfield, and two DASH routes stop near the hotel. - WZZM-TV 13 originally had its studios at the Pantlind until a new facility was built and completed in Walker, MichiganWalker, MichiganWalker is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan and a suburb of Grand Rapids. The population was 23,537 at the 2010 census. Before incorporating as a city, it was known as Walker Township...
. - The 1913 Room is the only restaurant in Michigan to be awarded 5 diamonds by the American Automobile AssociationAmerican Automobile AssociationAAA , formerly known as the American Automobile Association, is a federation of 51 independently operated motor clubs throughout North America. AAA is a not-for-profit member service organization with more than 51 million members. AAA provides services to its members such as travel, automotive,...
. - The hotel is prominent in the background in Trees, the third NOOMANOOMANOOMA is a series of short films produced by Flannel promoting spiritual perspectives on individual life experiences. The name NOOMA comes from a phonetic spelling of the Greek word meaning "wind," "spirit," or "breath."-Format:...
film featuring Rob BellRob BellRobert Holmes "Rob" Bell Jr. is an American author and pastor. He is the founder of Mars Hill Bible Church located in Grandville, Michigan and is also the featured speaker in a series of spiritual short films called NOOMA.-Education and ministry:Bell is the son of Judge Robert Holmes Bell, who was...
. - A Ruth's Chris Steak HouseRuth's Chris Steak HouseRuth's Chris Steak House is a chain of more than 121 steakhouses across the United States and in several international locations. The restaurant is regarded as an upscale fine dining establishment, marking a gradual elevation in its status since its founding in the 1960s...
will replace The 1913 Room in the fall of 2011.