See inside the new historic Tutwiler Hotel after $7M DoubleTree by Hilton renovation

One of downtown Birmingham’s most storied hotels has a new name to match its new look. The Tutwiler Hotel officially reopened as a DoubleTree by Hilton, marking the next chapter for a building that’s been part of the city’s skyline for more than a century.

The Birmingham Business Alliance marked the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 6, celebrating both the hotel’s long history and the investment shaping its future.

The hotel is owned by A&R Group, a hospitality company based in Gulf Shores, Alabama. While signage now reads DoubleTree, the full conversion from Hampton Inn & Suites is still in progress. The good news for travelers: the hotel never closed and remains open for bookings throughout the transition.

The Tutwiler Hotel’s history, from Ridgley Apartments to today

The hotel was named for Edward Tutwiler, who was Julia Tutwiler‘s cousin. He helped found the City of Leeds and sold the Tutwiler Coal, Coke, and Iron Company, using the funds to build first the Ridgley Apartments, then the Tutwiler Hotel.

The Ridgley Apartments first opened in 1913. In the 1980s, developers bought and remodeled it into a hotel, taking on the Tutwiler name after the original Tutwiler Hotel was demolished in 1974 to make way for what’s now the Viva Health building.

The property has kept evolving ever since. A $9 million renovation brought it back in 2007 as the Hampton Inn & Suites Birmingham-Downtown-Tutwiler. Then in 2023, A&R Group announced another $7 million investment, setting the stage for this summer’s rebrand.

Through it all, much of what makes the Tutwiler special has stayed intact. The exterior architecture, original lobby ceiling and marble flooring, and most of the original windows are all still in place. The major updates were in the guest rooms and corridors. For a lot of Birmingham natives, a representative from A&R said, that history is vital to preserve.

What’s new at the Tutwiler Hotel’s DoubleTree by Hilton

While Hampton Inn and DoubleTree are both part of the Hilton family, DoubleTree is the more upscale, full-service sibling. There will be more dining options, more meeting space and more deluxe amenities.

The reimagined Tutwiler offers:

• 149 guest rooms
• 6 meeting rooms
• Free WiFi
• Streaming entertainment
• A fitness center
• Non-smoking rooms + cribs available upon request

A new restaurant is also on the way, though it won’t open to the public until later this month. The concept will feature a Cajun-Greek fusion menu, but the chef hasn’t been announced yet.

Why the Tutwiler Hotel reopening matters for downtown Birmingham

Every renovation of the Tutwiler has mirrored downtown’s own comeback story. This latest chapter adds a premium hotel and expanded event space right in the heart of the city — good news for visitors, business travelers and anyone hosting a meeting downtown.

Book a stay and see the new Tutwiler for yourself at hilton.com.