Fully renovated, rebranded hotel wraps up major transformation

Dec. 22, 2025

A new name, a new look and new amenities are ready at a downtown Sioux Falls hotel.

The Hilton Garden Inn Downtown at 201 E. Eighth St. has become The Catlin Hotel, a locally chosen name that will become part of Hilton’s Tapestry collection — a group of more than 125 independent hotels nationwide.

“The full scope of the renovation is done,” said Dione Deuel, chief operating officer of hospitality and director of brand experience for hotel operator Hegg Cos.

“Every aspect of the hotel has a different feel.”

The 134-room hotel opened in 2013 and was due for a renovation, but the rebrand is more extensive than an aesthetic makeover.

The name Catlin officially changes on Feb. 17. It was chosen as a nod to catlinite, the sister stone to quartzite, which runs beneath Sioux Falls.

George Catlin, for whom the stone was named, was a lawyer, painter, author and traveler who specialized in portraits of Native Americans during the 1830s. His wife, Clara, is the namesake behind one of the first phases of the renovation to be completed: a private bar and dining room created by converting former meeting space.

“The response to that space, which can set up to 50, has been “phenomenal,” Deuel said. “Everyone says what a wonderful apace it is. Private dining has really started to take off, and we’ve had some great events happening there. We’re inching toward 50 already on the books for next year.”

The space also has a patio that will be further developed next year.

The most recent area to be unveiled is the lobby, which was opened up significantly and “has a modern, higher-end feel,” Deuel said. “Galaxy-feeling wallpaper takes you to a whole new dimension.”

The furnishings are designed to create a lounge feel and have created overflow seating from the nearby Starbucks cafe, which was reduced in size.

“It’s definitely been a wow,” Deuel said.

“This was the toughest phase to go through and had the greatest guest impact, but now that it’s done, we’ve heard from a lot of return travelers they’re really enjoying the space.”

As the Starbucks shrunk, the adjacent fitness center grew by about 300 square feet, with additional treadmills, full-length mirrors and an enhanced weight-training area.

“We actually did a poll with our guests late last year, and it’s one of the top five amenities guests look for when they book hotels,” Deuel said.

All guest rooms have been “completely overhauled,” she added. “Focusing on a tranquil place to spend your night, trying to change the mentality of travel. You hear about a bad night’s sleep in a hotel, and we’re trying to change that narrative.”

New additions include an entertainment center with a television on a swivel, upgraded mattresses, upgraded bathroom fixtures “and a great seating area in most of our kings,” Deuel said.

The renovation also included the hotel’s banquet space and on-site Crave American Kitchen & Sushi Bar.

“I think the biggest return on this investment in the renovation is going to be the banquet spaces,” Deuel said. “They were old and tired.”

Overall occupancy is “lower than last year, but we’ve had a whole floor out of service for renovation, so it’s a little harder to tell,” Deuel said. “It is definitely a softer year of travel … but I think downtown has grown so much it’s a destination where people want to be, especially in the spring and summer.”

Staffing for the hotel “is going great,” she added. A few team members, including the former general manager, also moved over to the new Highpoint Hotel that Hegg is managing in the Sanford Orthopedic Hotel, opening in January.

Improvements aren’t quite done at The Catlin, either.

Upgrades will be done on all the patios, from Starbucks through the lobby and off of Crave and Bar Clara, along with new paint and siding on the outside of the hotel.

Sanford Orthopedic Hospital, Highpoint Hotel ready to begin operations

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