KIMBELL ART MUSEUM TO OPEN SHOP IN NEW OMNI FORT WORTH HOTEL
Fort Worth, Texas (July 11, 2008) – The Omni Fort Worth Hotel and the internationally acclaimed Kimbell Art Museum have finalized a partnership that will give the Kimbell Art Museum Shop a second home at the new luxury hotel, opening in downtown in January 2009. The new Kimbell Art Museum Shop will feature art quality books, jewelry, decorative items and gifts, as well as the comprehensive Kimbell Handbook, which showcases more than 260 works of art and the museum’s exhibition catalogs.
“Omni Hotels and the Kimbell Art Museum both seek to provide an exceptional, memorable experience for locals and visitors in Fort Worth,” said Ed Netzhammer, regional vice president of operations and general manager of the Omni Fort Worth Hotel. “We are excited to collaborate closely with an organization of the caliber of the Kimbell in order to further serve as the “living room of Fort Worth” and be an essential downtown springboard to our city’s spectacular cultural venues.”
The Omni Fort Worth Hotel and the Kimbell team are closely working together to design the layout of the Kimbell Art Museum Shop. The store, which will be located on the ground level of the hotel, will be jointly run by the Omni and Kimbell organizations. In addition to the Kimbell’s merchandise, Omni will offer other memorabilia, accessories and items that reflect the city’s unique culture.
Malcolm Warner, Kimbell Art Museum acting director, commented, “With Fort Worth tourism on the rise, the introduction of the new Omni Hotel is a great asset to our community. The new store will be the Kimbell's ambassador to downtown, encouraging visitors to come to the Cultural District and see the museum itself. That's why it will be a vital presence for us. We are delighted to be involved in this partnership with the Omni Fort Worth Hotel.”
The Omni Fort Hotel and the luxury residences which sit on top of the hotel, 1301 Throckmorton, continue to reach into the Fort Worth skyline. The 1301 Throckmorton Omni Residences construction began this past May and the building is expected to be topped this September.
ABOUT THE OMNI FORT WORTH HOTEL
The breathtaking Omni Fort Worth Hotel will offer an original taste of Texas hospitality. Standing adjacent to the Fort Worth Convention Center, the hotel is within walking distance of the city’s burgeoning cultural centers, restaurants and nightlife; and will offer a casual yet sophisticated style and a personality that is as gracious and dynamic as Fort Worth itself. The Omni Fort Worth Hotel will have 614 guest rooms and suites featuring exceptional natural linens, saddle-blanket throws and stitched pillows. The luxury hotel will also boast fine culinary selections including the renowned Bob’s Steak & Chop House, Wine Thief bar, the Whisky & Rye sports lounge and Cast Iron for the casual dining experience.
Included among its 68,000 square feet of meeting and event space, are 29 meeting rooms with the Texas Ballroom, which will encompass 18,788 square feet alone. The hotel will also house 6,500 square feet of useable outdoor space and access to the Fort Worth Convention Center meeting space, which includes entry to the stunning Fort Worth Water Gardens. Other highlights include 20,000 square feet of landscaped roof-top space, a full-service fitness center, Wi-Fi access, the Kimbell Art Museum Shop and the acclaimed Mokara Spa.
ABOUT 1301 THROCKMORTON OMNI RESIDENCES
The residences at 1301 Throckmorton will take hospitality to new heights. Residents of the 89 luxury units being built atop the Omni Fort Worth Hotel will enjoy the ease and convenience of all hotel services and an array of luxurious dining options. Bob’s Steak & Chop House, Wine Thief and a full-service Starbuck’s will be on-site and easily accessible to residents. The residences will offer stunning views of the Fort Worth skyline, as well as the private residence rooftop pool and terrace. Sculpted from native stone, rich hardwoods and wrapped in glass, the residences will create a rustic yet refined feel. Each residence was designed by Faulkner Design Group and every detail was taken into consideration to ensure a complete luxury experience with a Fort Worth flare.
ABOUT KIMBELL ART MUSEUM
The Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth is often referred to as “America’s best small museum.” The Museum’s small collection of about 350 works is the embodiment of quality and importance at the highest level. The holdings range from antiquity to the 20th century, including European masterpieces and important collections of Egyptian, Near Eastern, Greek, and Roman antiquities, as well as Asian, Precolumbian and African art.
Designed by famed architect Louis I. Kahn, the Kimbell’s building is widely regarded as one of the most outstanding achievements in modern architecture. Its classic modern building has won wide acclaim since opening in 1972. Kahn’s innovative use of natural light and subtle articulation of space and materials greatly enhance the experience of the art.
The Kimbell Art Museum provides an ongoing program of interpretative exhibitions and publications. Exhibitions initiated and organized by the Museum include The Impressionists: Master Paintings from the Art Institute of Chicago in the summer of 2008 and The Mirror and the Mask: Portraiture in the Age of Picasso, 2007. The Museum has also hosted major traveling exhibitions, such as Hatshepsut: From Queen to Pharaoh and Impressionist Masterpieces from the Barnes Collection.