Opened in 1931 as the tallest hotel in Kansas City at 20 floors, with 450 rooms, built at a fortune of $1.6 million dollars, Hotel Phillips was the epitome of luxury from its inception. The 11-foot high golden statue representing Dawn, the winged goddess of the stars, was commissioned to embellish the lobby as a symbol of hospitality. Through the years, the hotel featured lavish dining and today’s Phillip Chophouse was a dining room popular with World War II servicemen, as was a tropical-themed lounge with thunder and lighting sound effects and drizzling rainfall. Countless celebrities and heads of state graced its halls, including Presidents Eisenhower and Truman and screen stars such as the Barrymore family.
The hotel changed ownership several times and underwent a variety of configurations. In1979 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and in 2001 Marcus Hotels & Resorts re-opened the property after a $20 million renovation. Boasting a lustrous art deco décor and the earmarks of a sophisticated urban boutique hotel, Hotel Phillips is again receiving great acclaim, and forging a path to the future.
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