DURHAM, North Carolina — JB Duke Hotel, North Carolina’s new contemporary lodging destination on the campus of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, has opened to guests.
The hotel features the Thomas Executive Conference Center. With 25,000 square feet of meeting and event space designed with a focus on hospitality, the center offers flexible event setup and adheres to the quality standards set by the International Association of Conference Centers. The facility offers a 5,450-square-foot ballroom, several multipurpose spaces, two state-of-the art boardrooms, two fixed-tiered classrooms that seat 65 attendees, generous prefunction spaces and a business center. State-of-the-art systems in each room will assist its global and local clientele.
Light-filled spaces abound throughout the hotel, offering views of the surrounding Duke Forest, landscaped courtyards, terraces and plazas, which connect guests with the outdoors. Local decor and furnishings invoke a sense of craftsmanship important to the history and community of North Carolina.
“Travelers from near and far will experience the very best of Southern hospitality at the JB Duke Hotel, nestled in the heart of Duke’s iconic campus,” said Gregg Hilker, general manager of the JB Duke Hotel. “The hotel’s contemporary design, convenient conference room features and attentive staff offer the perfect backdrop for visitors of Durham’s flourishing cultural, culinary, athletic, academic and business scenes.”
The hotel layout features guest-room and meeting-room wings intended for a variety of collaborative spaces and social functions, along with a full-service restaurant and two bars, all connected by a grand hall with a soaring two-story glass wall.
The JB Duke Hotel has 198 guest rooms, including 11 unique suites. Design inspiration from natural settings extends into the guest rooms.
The JB Duke Hotel represents a $62 million investment by Duke University in the Durham community, creating more than 120 career opportunities. The hotel and its conference facilities will be used by Duke’s MBA programs for working professionals and nondegree executive education courses hosted by the Fuqua School.
The namesake of the hotel is James Buchanan “J.B.” Duke, the son of Washington Duke, for whom the university was named and one of the most successful industrialists of the 20th century.
