Harwood International will open its first hotel property in 2023. Located in the Harwood District in Uptown at Mckinnon and Olive streets near The Crescent, the new hotel is Harwood Hospitality Group’s flagship hotel, promising “the confluence of Texan charm and international European flair.”
Named Hôtel Swexan, the moniker comes from the blend of Swiss and Texan cultures—a nod to Harwood International’s multi-generational Swiss-Texan heritage. Harwood’s founder, Gabriel Barbier-Mueller, was born and raised in Geneva, Switzerland, before moving to Texas in 1979 to pursue a career in real estate: first at Henry S. Miller brokerage company and then setting out on his own, founding his own firm.
“It is with great pride that we announce Hôtel Swexan to the ever-changing Dallas skyline and community. With a combination of exquisite design, an exceptional location, and a nod to our company’s Swiss Texan heritage, the first-of-its-kind destination will introduce a new level of style and distinctive Swiss-inspired luxury to our great city,” said Jessica Young Reid, director of marketing for Harwood International. “We believe the hotel will add vibrance to the community, which has always been central to our company’s mission. We hope the space will become a best-loved culinary, cultural, and nightlife destination right in the heart of Harwood District.”
The 22-story tower is the third building in the 19-block Harwood District designed by renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. The new mirrored tower design “exemplifies Kuma’s philosophy that buildings should enrich the connection between architecture and its surrounding landscape,” according to the release.
As with all of Harwood’s properties, art and design will be at the forefront of the new project. Hôtel Swexan’s interiors, which will be done by Harwood’s in-house design team, are inspired by a classical 19th-Century Parisian residence, offering “comfortable yet elegant furniture and intricate, hand-carved stone and wooden fireplaces on every floor of the hotel.”
The luxe lobby will feature three dining experiences, including all-day high tea and martini bars, a dimly-lit two-story library cocktail bar, and a hidden underground lounge.
Amenities to the hotel include a signature steakhouse on the seventh floor, a state-of-the-art fitness and wellness center on the eighth floor, and a 20th-floor, 75-foot rooftop infinity-edge swimming pool. The project also includes 12,000 square feet of meeting and event spaces with two grand ballrooms and three private meeting rooms.
In total, Harwood Hospitality will add 500 jobs in 2023.
To read more about Harwood Hospitality’s expansion plans, read this October 2022 interview with Alexis and Oliver Barbier-Mueller.
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