One of Louisville’s largest hotels, the Galt House, announced that it would join the Trademark Collection by Wyndham’s growing portfolio of nearly 70 global hotels, as an independently owned soft-branded hotel.
The flagship hotel, which will begin a $80 million renovation this June, becomes Wyndham Hotel Group’s largest single addition in North America to date with 1,310 rooms.
Launched last year, Trademark is a collection of upper-midscale-and-above hotels with fiercely independent spirit and individuality. It’s the first soft brand geared to independent hoteliers with landmark three- and four-star hotels designed for everyday travelers seeking unique accommodations. Today, Trademark is welcoming guests at award-winning hotels like The INFINITY Hotel & Conference Center in Munich, Germany, and the HYPERION Hotel Basel in Basel, Switzerland, as well as in notable locations like the Ravel Hotel in Long Island City, N.Y., and the Safety Harbor Resort & Spa in Safety Harbor, Fla.

“We’re focused on bolstering Trademark Collection by Wyndham in destinations with signature style and partnering with entrepreneurial hoteliers who want to capture more guests while upholding their hotel’s namesake charm,” said Chip Ohlsson, Wyndham Hotel Group’s executive vice president and chief development officer, North America. “Iconic additions like the flagship Galt House Hotel give everyday travelers access to timeless experiences in city centers like Louisville, as well as reaffirm Wyndham’s commitment to growing this brand through quality additions spanning small boutique hotels to grand landmarks.”
With its hotel roots dating back to 1835, today’s two-towered Galt House Hotel, Trademark Collection by Wyndham features seven restaurants and lounges including RIVUE Restaurant & Lounge, the world’s only rotating rooftop bar perched 25 stories high, and Jockey Silks Bourbon Bar featuring more than 150 Kentucky bourbons and assorted whiskeys; and 53 meeting rooms spanning 130,000 square feet of function space.
$80 Million Renovation to Engage New Generation of Travelers

Upcoming renovations will refashion the hotel’s blended Midwestern spirit and Southern charm hospitality, keeping it competitive in the convention and meeting markets as well as endearing its legacy to today’s modern guest.
The Galt House Hotel sought local companies to partner with on renovating the Louisville landmark, selecting K. Norman Berry Associates Architects and Swope Design to create the look and feel of the new public spaces and guest rooms. Louisville’s PLC Construction Management and Kelley Construction were contracted to bring those designs to life. Together with New Albany’s Restonic, the Galt House Hotel created a branded mattress, exclusive to their 1300+ rooms. Many of the materials –including wallcoverings and flooring- were sourced locally.
Major renovations include reimagining guestrooms and public spaces with fresh design, furnishing and finishes inspired by the food, bourbon, horses and colors of Kentucky, like spring-green, saddle-brown, aged-barn red, thoroughbred-blue and jockey-silk orange. The hotel will also introduce fresh culinary concepts to all dining concepts including three new restaurants.
A bastion of genuine Louisville hospitality, the Galt House Hotel is known as the go-to social hub for celebrities and locals alike to gather and enjoy all things Louisville. It is Louisville’s only waterfront hotel and the official hotel of both the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Derby Festival, where every year up to 700,000 visitors gather for a front-row seat to Thunder Over Louisville.
“At the core of our mission is introducing our legendary Louisville legacy to even more guests across the world, and partnering with Wyndham gives us the high-profile size, scale and visibility to do just that,” said Scott Shoenberger, president and CEO of the Al J. Schneider Co., the hotel’s owner. “Together with Wyndham, we’re excited to bring the spirited Louisvillian experience to life for travelers, helping them discover a slice of home in Kentucky they’ll remember and want to return to for years to come."