By Amber Elliott, Staff Writer
For 22 years, Hotel Derek glittered blue at the intersection of the 610 Loop at Westheimer. For vehicular traffic, its mirrored glass windows marked the exit for the Galleria. Its caddy-corner presence signaled a departure from the west side of town into River Oaks. Thanks to Drake’s 2015 mixtape album “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late,” the Hotel Derek has become Houston lore.
Next year, the unofficial Bayou City landmark gets a new lease on hospitality life. Hotel Derek is slated to re-open in spring 2026 as the Greenleigh, under the Marriott Autograph Collection Hotels umbrella. Makeready, a Dallas-based company, will manage and operate the 299-room property. Rates start $329.
“The location and the former identity has been a beacon for a long time. What we’re looking to do with the Greenleigh is bring a new identity to the market and a new, vibrant experience to the River Oaks community in a very thoughtful way,” Makeready President Eric Gavin told the Houston Chronicle. “When you’re driving by and see that the new facade is completely changed, we want you to think 'Wow, what’s coming?'”
The Greenleigh’s impending arrival also cements a recent hotel boom in Houston ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026. Hotel Saint Augustine, The Marlene and Thompson Houston have all opened within the past 24 months. Hotel Daphne, a Bunkhouse Hotels group sister property of the Saint Augustine, welcomes its first guests on Dec. 1.
The Greenleigh’s niche is a bit more tropical and trendy, albeit with the capacity to accommodate more guests and entertain in public spaces on a Texas-size scale.
Renderings illustrate a Tulum-meets-Miami design aesthetic. Gavin’s team aims to create an urban oasis modeled after a retreat destination.Its nature-inspired name suggests the lush vegetation of a meadow or clearing — Makeready’s concept has leaned into that.
“With the Greenleigh we’ve been very intentional about the name, which speaks to migratory patterns. Birds are etched throughout the property,” Gavin said.
There’s a rooftop planned with high grasses and sweeping views. By day, a Swim Club creates an opportunity to relax by the pool. In the evenings, Gavin hopes that hotel guests and Houston residents will take advantage of the space for social gatherings and events. With a total of 13,000 square feet of meeting room, one of Makeready’s goals is to host galas. The ballroom can accommodate up to 300 people.
It’s a departure from Hotel Derek’s clubby, moody, after-hours appeal. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The popularity of Tilman Fertitta’s River Oaks District has lured an international crowd to the area, where luxury clients are more interested in shopping safely at the newly opened Pucci, Loro Piana or Altuzarra boutiques and less into bottle popping at Bisou, a shuttered vibe-dining restaurant.
Gavin hopes the Greenleigh can also be a bit of a gathering space. He aims for visitors will work from their laptops in the lobby, and they’ve designed a Trade Room bar for casual gatherings, too.Chef Richard Sandoval will serve wood-fired Mexican food and Oaxacan cuisine from an on-site restaurant, dLeña.
Upstairs, the Greenleigh’s hotel room palettes feature warm tones, layered textures and residential layouts.
“We’re creating an urban oasis. We’re taking a step back and bringing you to nature, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday Houston life,” Gavin said.