Spokane-based Worthy Hotels Inc. is nearly two-thirds complete with a $15 million renovation project at the 401-guestroom, former Hotel RL at the Park it acquired last year. 

Located at 303 W. North River Drive, the hotel is now named Centennial Spokane Hotel.

The full remodel of the hotel, located on the north bank of the Spokane River, is expected to be finished next February, says Matt Jensen, corporate director of sales and marketing for the Davenport Hotel Collection, a Worthy company operating four other prominent downtown Spokane hotels.

Improvements in the lobby, restaurant, and kitchen are completed. Other work includes upgrading the rooms and replacing bathtubs with walk-in showers. Jensen says walk-in showers are trending in modern hotels, and baths aren’t as popular with guests.

The Centennial Hotel LLC, another Worthy affiliate, is the contractor on renovations, and Spokane architect Steven Meek designed it.

Construction will be scaled back in the coming months so it doesn’t impede operations during the peak summer season.

“We want to take advantage of our busy season and accommodate as many people as we can in Spokane during that time period,” Jensen says.

So far, though, staying open for guests during construction hasn’t been too much of a challenge, he says. The hotel consists of three buildings, and the staff has been able to section off construction areas and lodge guests in other parts of the hotel, Jensen says. 

Renovations will resume in November for the remaining 130 rooms to be remodeled in the West Tower, Jensen says. The last phase of renovations will include remodeling meeting spaces and two ballrooms.

When the work is complete, the Centennial will reflect the Davenport Grand Hotel’s contemporary design and have a similar color scheme, Jensen says.

Worthy Hotels Inc. is co-owned by Walt and Karen Worthy. The couple started the company with the purchase and restoration of the Historic Davenport Hotel that began in 2000. In 2002, the hotel opened its doors again.

Since then, Worthy Hotels Inc. has developed the Davenport Tower at 111 S. Post and Davenport Grand at 333 W. Spokane Falls and has purchased the Davenport Lusso at 808 W. Sprague.

As previously reported by the Journal, the Worthys have said they’ll consider affiliating the Centennial hotel with a national brand.