The Houston Grand Hotel — River Oaks

Houston's St. Regis — a 1982 tower that was already the city's first Ritz-Carlton before losing that flag in 1997 — has changed hands again. Saddlebrook Equity and Management, the family office of local businessman Leslie Doggett, bought the 232-room hotel in a deal announced January 8, 2026, and plans to relaunch it as The Houston Grand Hotel — River Oaks, shifting the property from St. Regis to Marriott's Luxury Collection after a full renovation with design led by Charlotte Moss.

The place

The hotel sits at 1919 Briar Oaks Lane in Houston's River Oaks/Uptown corridor, a short drive from the Galleria retail district and the Texas Medical Center. This is not to be confused with the Ritz-Carlton, Houston, currently under construction at a separate site elsewhere in the city — the two share a piece of brand history, since this building was itself Houston's first Ritz-Carlton until 1997, but they are otherwise unrelated projects with distinct addresses and timelines.

The concept

The building opened in 1982 as The Remington, then became Houston's first Ritz-Carlton before losing that flag in 1997, when it was reflagged as the St. Regis Houston — a run of roughly three decades under Marriott's St. Regis brand that this sale brings to a close. Saddlebrook Equity and Management, the family office of Houston businessman Leslie Doggett, acquired the 232-room property in a deal announced January 8, 2026. The firm has outlined a top-to-bottom renovation covering all guest rooms, public spaces, meeting and event space, and culinary venues, with design work led by Charlotte Moss. The hotel will keep its Marriott affiliation but move from St. Regis to The Luxury Collection, reopening under the standalone name The Houston Grand Hotel — River Oaks, with HEI Hotels & Resorts continuing as operator through the transition.

Dining & wellness

Under the St. Regis flag, the hotel's dining anchor was The Remington, a New American dining room, alongside the adjoining Remington Bar and a Tea Lounge; the spa offered Ayurvedic-inspired treatments plus a pool, sauna, and fitness center, and the property held a AAA Five Diamond rating dating to 2001. The renovation is expected to rework or replace these venues: ownership has announced new food-and-beverage concepts, a reimagined lobby, and standalone bars built around coffee, whiskey, martini, and brandy programs. None of the new venues had been named as of this writing.