Local businessman Leslie Doggett has acquired the St. Regis Houston hotel, with plans for a comprehensive renovation and rebranding of the property. The hotel, located at 1919 Briar Oaks Lane between River Oaks and the Galleria, will undergo a multimillion-dollar refresh over the next two years. The purchase price and seller were not disclosed.
Doggett’s family business, Leslie Doggett Industries, is known for its work in industrial equipment and car dealerships. This acquisition represents a strategic move into hospitality for Doggett. He noted that his connection to the hotel is also personal, recalling that he and his wife spent their wedding night there in 1984 when it was called The Remington. “The hotel has excellent bones,” Doggett said. “But it just needs a few upgrades.”
As part of the transition, the hotel will leave the St. Regis brand operated by Marriott International and instead join Marriott’s Luxury Collection as The Houston Grand Hotel — River Oaks. Doggett clarified that this property is not affiliated with the nearby St. Regis Residences Houston condominium project.
Originally opened in 1982, the hotel became Houston’s first Ritz-Carlton before hosting Queen Elizabeth II in 1991. It lost its Ritz-Carlton branding in 1997. Doggett aims to restore what he described as “the city’s grandest hotel experience” using a family-owned approach.
Renovation designs are set to be completed this year, with construction expected to finish by late 2027 under Saddlebrook Equity and Management, part of Doggett’s broader business operations. HEI Hotels & Resorts from Connecticut will manage daily operations.
Planned renovations include significant changes to the lobby such as removing walls and drop ceilings to create higher ceilings and more open space for arrivals. The ground floor will feature new amenities including a coffee shop, barber shop, restaurant replacing The Remington, gun shop, spirits-focused lounge, and other guest experiences.
Doggett emphasized the importance of location: “This area is ground zero for Houston hotels,” he said.
Guest rooms across all twelve floors will be updated in phases so that the hotel does not need to close entirely during construction. Upgrades are also planned for event spaces, fitness center, and pool deck areas with New York-based designer Charlotte Moss leading interior design efforts.
Additionally, Doggett is involved in a proposed mixed-use development nearby which could add a 50-story condo-hotel tower and office space on Post Oak Boulevard.
