When guests walk into the new Fidelity Hotel located at 1940 East Sixth St., they will see the benefits of not joining a hotel chain. The hotel took an independent route and became the newest hotel in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio when it opened on Jan. 27.
This isn’t a standard hotel experience, and it doesn’t have cookie-cutter hotel art. Texas-based New Waterloo management, which operates multiple hotels across the country, embraced the independence and brought in 30 different local artists, who crafted artistic designs throughout the entrance, the first floor and the rest of the hotel.
“Our independent nature allows us to provide a level of service that we believe is unmatched in the local community. We can cater to the guest experience exactly how we believe our guests will benefit most without a brand standing in our way,” says Fidelity general manager Eric Conrad.
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The hotel boasts the Club Room, a restaurant, bar and lounge open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on the first floor, serving American classics with some fresh takes on Cleveland essentials made by executive chef Eddie Zalar, the former owner and chef of Nora in Little Italy.
“Being independent gives us complete control over our menu and who we source our ingredients from,” Conrad says. “We look to bring a fresh take on Cleveland classic dishes for visitors to taste and for locals to find comfort in.”
Connected to the Club Room is a private dining room with walls covered in a mural made by Lari Jacobsen, a fourth-generation Cleveland artist, depicting different historical aspects of Cleveland, from the Guardians of Traffic and even the Cuyahoga River on fire.
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With the creativity of a boutique hotel, New Waterloo management focused on the history of Cleveland and the 103-year-old Baker Building, formerly known as the Fidelity Mortgage Building, making the hotel as much for locals as it is for guests. Eleven floors accommodate 97 guest rooms. As guests navigate to their spaces, they’ll see small details of the building’s former layout, including original mail chutes in the hallways.
“It was used as an office building for almost 100 years. We truly believe this level of hospitality deserves to be in this building and area once again,” Conrad says.
Of the 97 guest rooms, 11 are suites, and the rest are queen and king rooms with a corner king on every floor. Conrad told Cleveland Magazine that the rooms are designed so that guests “feel like their hotel room is an extension of their home,” which gives them a more personal feel.
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Each room and suite has French oak hardwood floors (except the Fidelity suite, which features white oak hardwood floors) that perfectly complement the warm interiors. The rooms also have walk-in showers with custom bathroom tile mosaic (ADA-compliant rooms have a claw-foot deep soaking tub and shower combo) and a locally sourced mini-bar or a wet bar.
Black rotary phones and leather chairs complete the vintage setting curated by the Fidelity Hotel, and Italian Bellino luxury linens and Allegrini bathroom amenities add touches of luxury.
Queen rooms ($165-$230 per night) range from 210 to 350 square feet, and kings ($180-$210 per night) from 230 to 250 square feet. The Petite suite ($265 per night) is 300 square feet, the Vincent suite ($590 per night) is 670 square feet and the Fidelity suite ($690) is the largest at 695 square feet.
The Petite suite is a corner room, and the Vincent and Fidelity suites have separate dining and living areas with custom furniture, a larger walk-in shower and a powder room. They set the stage for small groups for different events like weddings — with spaces suitable for brides getting ready with their bridesmaids.
In the case of weddings, guests can head to The Hollenden, a 1,850-square-foot reception hall inside the Fidelity Hotel with space for 100 guests. Cleveland business execs can plan their next team-building retreat in the 380-square-foot board room or close out their next big deal in a private dining room featuring a round table that can host up to eight people.
“We are very proud of the ways we are devoted to fostering a hotel that is more than just a place to stay but rather a focal point for connection, collaboration, and community advancement,” Conrad says.
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