It didn’t make sense to open the Peregrine Hotel during a time when people weren’t traveling.
So the Omaha hotel, near 18th and Douglas Streets, opened about a year later than planned.

The Peregrine Hotel, at 18th and Douglas Streets, is one of a handful of new hotels in downtown Omaha. Business is starting to return to normal, said the hotel’s general manager, David Scott.
Business is starting to pick up, creating a sense of things returning to normal, said general manager David Scott.
The Peregrine is one of a handful of new hotels that have opened or are under construction in Omaha. Managers said they have been adjusting to the changing travel industry.
Douglas County has nearly 10,000 hotel rooms, according to the Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Despite recent closures, including the loss of Coco Key near 72nd and Grover Streets, the city has seen a 2% increase in hotel rooms, said Deborah Ward, Visit Omaha’s executive director.
The city’s hotel industry has ebbed and flowed in the last two years.
“The pandemic did take its toll,” Ward said. “We did lose some rooms, but they’re coming back — and the numbers are coming back — even stronger.”
People are also reading…

The Farnam Hotel, one of the new hotels in downtown Omaha, is part of the Marriott Bonvoy Autograph Collection. “All of these properties have these really cool, unique factors,” said Deborah Ward, Visit Omaha’s executive director. “It’s not your typical hotel when you walk into them.”
New additions to the downtown hotel landscape, in addition to the Peregrine, include The Farnam, at 13th and Farnam Streets, and Hotel Indigo, at 18th and Dodge Streets.
The three completed hotels add a total of 299 rooms to Omaha’s downtown.
The Blackstone district saw the opening of the newly renovated Cottonwood Hotel — formerly the Blackstone Hotel — near 36th and Farnam Streets in 2020. The Cottonwood added 205 rooms.
Those hotels were planned pre-pandemic. But another wave of new hotels is in the works across the city.

A 113-room hotel, the Moxy, is under construction at the former site of The Diner at 12th and Harney Streets. The six-story hotel, part of the Marriott chain, is slated to open between April and June 2023, said Samir Patel, director of development for Hawkeye Hotels.
Those include a hotel on the former site of The Diner at 12th and Harney Streets in the Old Market. Once complete, it will add 113 rooms.
Other sites in the works include a Holiday Inn Express in Blair, a Fairfield Inn and Suites near 72nd and Grover Streets and two hotels in west Omaha, Ward said.
The Old Market hotel, the Moxy, is part of the Marriott chain. The six-story hotel is slated to open between April and June 2023, said Samir Patel, director of development for Hawkeye Hotels.
Construction was delayed for about a year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Work on the hotel started in June 2021. Now, crews are framing the building’s third floor.
The Moxy, Patel said, is designed to serve business and leisure travelers. The Omaha space will include nods to the city’s history as a transportation hub.
The Moxy brand will fit in with the vibrancy in the Old Market, Patel said. The local economy, as well as strong sectors in finance, insurance and information technology, made Omaha a draw.
“We’ve been circling the Omaha market for almost a decade,” Patel said.

The Cottonwood Hotel, which opened in November 2020, spent its first year of operation in a learning curve.
The Cottonwood Hotel, which opened in November 2020, has spent its first year in a learning curve, said Steve Shern, general manager.
“Data is out the window because everything is so different,” he said.
So far, the hotel has drawn plenty of business and leisure travelers. It also has been booked for weddings and other special events.
The hotel’s pool is a big draw in the summer months. And special events attract the public into the hotel space year-round.
“We want to be Omaha’s living room,” Shern said. “We want everybody hanging out here, whether they come for the historical piece, for the food or a special event. We want them to feel like this is their hotel.”
Including the three newly opened hotels — the Peregrine, The Farnam and Hotel Indigo — downtown Omaha is home to at least a dozen others that range from boutique-style lodgings to more traditional full-service hotels.
Downtown sees the most demand for hotel rooms, partly because that’s where the city’s main convention center sits, Ward said. Other events such as the College World Series also are hosted downtown.
“People want to stay closer to the event space,” Ward said.

A room at Hotel Indigo, at 18th and Dodge Streets, which is among the new additions to the downtown hotel landscape. Hotel Indigo, the Peregrine and The Farnam add a total of 299 rooms to Omaha’s downtown.
The annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting in early May drew numbers similar to 2019, the last year the meeting was held in person, Ward said.
Occupancy numbers during Berkshire weekend were 89.7% on Friday and 89% on Saturday. Typically, they sit at 90% on Friday and 95% on Saturday.
Those kinds of numbers indicate demand is returning, Ward said.
Hotel managers said they have seen an uptick in visitors — some there on “staycations” and others traveling nationally or internationally.
Larger chains have been branching out into the boutique business to attract both new and existing customers.
The Peregrine is part of the high-end Hilton Curio brand. The Farnam is part of the Marriott Bonvoy Autograph Collection. The Cottonwood Hotel and Hotel Indigo offer unique lodgings with nods to Omaha history.
“These four hotel properties bring a deluxe collection to the city’s hotel package,” Ward said. “It allows our out-of-towners some of the most unique hotels in the Midwest.”

A nest-shaped decoration is seen on the seventh floor inside the Peregrine Hotel. The hotel has nods to Omaha history.
The Peregrine, for example, sits near Omaha’s Woodmen Tower, which is typically home to peregrine falcons. The hotel’s interior features a peregrine mural and other nods to the bird throughout the space.
“All of these properties have these really cool, unique factors,” Ward said. “It’s not your typical hotel when you walk into them.”
The Peregrine “has its own story to tell,” said Scott, the general manager. Brands have specific standards when it comes to room sizes, meeting spaces and restaurants, but the boutique element allowed owners to work within the existing building space for the Peregrine, Scott said.
The 89-room hotel is closer to the courthouses and office towers than it is to the stadium and convention center. The initial goal was to draw business travelers, but officials have since drawn fans for sporting events and attendees of the Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting.
“We’ve revisited what audience we can attract,” Scott said. “It opened up a market we hadn’t thought of or considered for ourselves pre-COVID.”
Boutique hotels also appeal to people staying home for vacation, or “staycationers.” It makes for an easy getaway, Ward said, where guests can stay in their own city and be taken care of without having to worry about housework.
While boutique hotels are having a moment, traditional hotels are still necessary. They appeal to business travelers and convention attendees. They’re also typically booked up by sports teams and fans, especially during the College World Series.
The influx of new hotels, especially in the downtown area, isn’t a threat, the hotel managers said.
Many frequent travelers want to stay with a brand they trust. But those companies’ boutique offerings allow them to still try something new.
“It’s a natural demand,” the Peregrine’s Scott said.
“Any time a hotelier feels confident enough in a city’s tourism, that’s when they start thinking about building,” Ward said. “When you start to see hotel developers wanting to bring in a hotel, they’re speaking and saying, ‘Hey, we believe your city will grow.’”
Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of May 2022

Riverside’s Tony Berger wins the class D 110 meter hurdles at the Nebraska state high school track and field tournament on Saturday.

South Platte’s Haily Koenen prepares for her next attempt in the class D shot put at state track on Saturday.

Hartington Cedar Catholic’s Jaxon Bernecker throws discus in class C at state track on Saturday.

Ainsworth’s Carter Nelson makes an attempt in the class C pole vault at state track on Saturday.

Fremont Bergan’s Koa McIntyre celebrates winning the class C 100 meter dash at state track on Saturday.

Lincoln Lutheran’s Logan Lebo, left, finishes second to Grand Island Central Catholic’s Brayton Johnson, right, class C 400 meter run at state track on Saturday.

Oklahoma State’s Chelsea Alexander (55) is hit by the glove of Nebraska’s Billie Andrews (6) while sliding into second during the Nebraska vs. Oklahoma State NCAA tournament regional softball game at Oklahoma State University on Saturday. Oklahoma State won the game 7-4.

Waverly’s Drew Miller tags out Elkhorn North’s Drew Harper at third base in the third inning during the class B baseball state championship game on Friday.

Nebraska’s Sydney Gray (7) bats in the North Texas vs. Nebraska NCAA tournament regional softball game at Oklahoma State University on Friday. The Huskers won the game 3-0.

Nebraska is introduced ahead of the North Texas vs. Nebraska NCAA tournament regional softball game at Oklahoma State University on Friday.
McCook’s Chayse Friehe competes in the Class B pole vault during Nebraska high school state track and field at Burke Stadium in Omaha on Wednesday.

A mask ls partily covered by petals that blew off a nearby blooming tree in a parking lot in Omaha on Monday.

Head Groundskeeper Zach Ricketts, left, works on the field while Carol Szczepaniak votes in Nebraska’s primary election on Tuesday at Werner Park.

Larnisha Dortch fills out her ballot at Fontenelle Forest during Nebraska’s primary election on Tuesday.

Firetrucks spray water on a fire at the Flora Apartments, 2557 Jones St. on Wednesday.

Kearney’s Brayden Andersen can’t hold onto this pop-up hit by Millard West’s Nixon Snyder in the bottom of the third inning during the Nebraska state baseball tournament on Friday. It was ruled to hit and Snyder eventually scored that inning.

A dragonfly zooms past Lincoln East’s Jalen Worthley as he throws the games first pitch against Elkhorn South during the Nebraska state baseball tournament on Friday.

Lincoln East’s Jalen Worthley started the game against Elkhorn South during the Nebraska state baseball tournament on Friday.

Lincoln East’s A.J. Seizys scores after a bunt by Jaelyn Welch and an error by Elkhorn South catcher Cole Goeser in the second inning during the Nebraska state baseball tournament on Friday.

Lincoln East’s Jeter Worthley watches a pitch go by against Elkhorn South during the Nebraska state baseball tournament on Friday.

Quiana Smith, left, talks about her late father Rudy Smith Sr. with support from Rudy’s widow Llana Smith and son Rudy Smith Jr. during a ceremony to rename a section of Lake Street near 34th Avenue to Rudy Smith Sr. Street on Saturday. Rudy Smith Sr. was a longtime World-Herald photojournalist.

Waverly’s Landon Tjaden (8) and Scottsbluff’s Jose Rodriguez (17) chase the ball into shadow during the Scottsbluff vs. Waverly NSAA Class B state quarterfinal boys soccer game in Omaha on Thursday. Waverly won the game 5-4 after a shootout.

Omaha Duchesne’s Claire Niehaus (18) takes a corner in the Omaha Duchesne vs. Bennington NSAA Class B state quarterfinal girls soccer game in Omaha on Wednesday.

Members of the media await results during the Brett Lindstrom for Governor election results watch party in Omaha on Tuesday. The race was called for Jim Pillen.

Brett Lindstrom, Republican candidate for Nebraska governor, walks off the stage, with results projected on him, after conceding the race during an election results watch party in Omaha on Tuesday. The race was called for Jim Pillen.

Gretna’s Colton Damme (5) leaps over Millard South’s Sam Stutheit (16) as he slides to the ball in the Gretna vs. Millard South NSAA Class A state quarterfinal boys soccer game in Omaha on Tuesday. Gretna won the game 4-1.

The Omaha Marian vs. Lincoln Pius X NSAA Class A state quarterfinal girls soccer game in Omaha on Monday. Omaha Marian won the game 5-3.

A mask ls partily covered by petals that blew off a nearby blooming tree in a parking lot in Omaha on Monday.

People and vendors line 11th Street, looking north towards Jackson Street on the first day of the Omaha’s Farmers Market on Saturday.

Steve Kunasek plays the Cajun accordion on the first day of Omaha’s Farmers Market on Saturday. Kunasek normally performs with The Prairie Gators.

The new signs for CHarles Schwab Field are now installed. The field was formerly TD Ameritrade Park.

Papillion-LaVista South’s Cole Krska (right) celebrates with Andre Santamaria after Santamaria scored a goal during their district final against Omaha South at Papillion-LaVista South High School on Wednesday.

Chelsea Souder, the founder and director of Nebraska Abortion Resources, speaks as hundreds of people rally for abortion access rights after a leaked draft a U.S. Supreme Court decision that would overturn Roe v. Wade become public outside the Omaha and Douglas County Civic Center on Tuesday.

A pigeon builds a nest in the sign on the DoubleTree hotel located at 1616 Dodge Street on Tuesday.

Omaha Bryan’s Cesar Hernandez (8) celebrates his corner kick goal as teammate Christofer Gallardo-Mejia (14) comes up behind him in the Omaha Central vs. Omaha Bryan boys soccer district semifinal game at Omaha Bryan High School on Monday. Omaha Bryan won the game 3-0.

Lincoln Lutheran/Raymond Central’s Jordan Ernstmeyer (left) and goalkeeper Sophie Wohlgemuth stop Norris’s Nicole Keetle (right) during their Class B state soccer game at Morrison Stadium on Wednesday.

Omaha Westside’s Martin Mormino (right) makes a save as Creighton Prep’s Simon Metcalf tries to get his head on the ball during their Class A state soccer game at Morrison Stadium on Tuesday.

Omaha Bryan’s Cesar Hernandez-Garcia celebrates after defeating Papillion-La Vista South in their Class A state soccer game at Morrison Stadium on Tuesday.

Papillion-LaVista South’s Cole Krska jumps up to kick the ball during their district final against Omaha South at Papillion-LaVista South High School on Wednesday.

Omaha Westside’s Coehen Rusin (left) collides with Creighton Prep’s Zamere Issaka during their Class A state soccer game at Morrison Stadium on Tuesday.

Elyz Onofre hugs her son, Omaha Bryan’s Carlos Vargas Onofre, after Omaha Bryan defeated Papillion-La Vista South in their Class A state soccer game at Morrison Stadium on Tuesday.

Omaha Westside’s Johnathan Boyle (left) battles Creighton Prep’s Max Matthies for the ball during their Class A state soccer game at Morrison Stadium on Tuesday.

Omaha Westside’s Coehen Rusin (left) battles Creighton Prep’s Brady Bragg for the ball during their Class A state soccer game at Morrison Stadium on Tuesday.
More Stories
Points to Analyse About A Business Loan
Common Surety Bonds You Ought To Know
The Cosmetic Corporate Governance – Will Companies Learn Lessons From the Global Financial Crisis!