Omni William Penn Hotel set to reopen Downtown
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It’s no joke. The Omni William Penn Hotel on Grant Street is set to reopen on April Fools’ Day — next Thursday.
The historic 105-year-old building has been closed for over a year because of the covid-19 pandemic. Since 1916, the Omni William Penn has hosted Pittsburgh royalty as well as movie stars, politicians and heads of state.
As part of the reopening, Omni Hotels & Resorts representatives said in a statement the William Penn is following new protocols and safety measures put in place as part of a brand-wide program, “Omni Safe & Clean.”
Some of the measures include having all associates go through a daily health screening including temperature checks. Signage and distance indicators will be used throughout the hotel in high-traffic areas to allow for and encourage proper social distancing. Cleaned and disinfected guest rooms will have an “Omni Safe & Clean” seal of approval sticker upon completion.
“We are all so excited to reopen this Pittsburgh landmark and look forward to welcoming guests again,” said Gino Caliendo, general manager. “As our friends at Visit Pittsburgh say, ‘When you’re ready, we will be here.’”
For now, Bruegger’s Bagels will be the only dining outlet open. However, the hotel plans to have additional food and beverage options, including the Palm Court and Starbucks, available in early May.
One of the Omni William Penn’s primary attractions is “The Speakeasy,” a prohibition era bar beneath the hotel lobby that attracts guests as well as people just looking for a place to have a drink. However, “The Speakeasy” is not in the initial opening plans according to Bob Page, sales and marketing director for the Omni William Penn.
“We will not have any restaurants or bars open in April because there is just not a high enough occupancy. As occupancy rises, we will begin to open up our other food and beverage outlets,” Page said.