Austin gets set for capital expansion

Austin, the state capital of Texas, will see new five-star hotels open in 2010.

The Westin at The Domain is scheduled to open in March 2010. The eight-story, 340-room Westin Hotel will include an urban bistro, a fitness facility and 14,000 square feet of meeting space, as well as retail shopping. Some residential units will also be included.

Block 21/W Hotel is scheduled to open in mid-2010. The W Hotel anchors this $225-million project in the 2nd Street District. The space will also include 200 luxury condominiums, new studios for Austin City Limits and a nightclub co-owned by Willie Nelson. Shoppers can browse among 50,000 square feet of street-level retail as well.

www.westin.com; www.stratusprop.com