White Lodging on Feb. 8 announced the renaming of its new Autograph Collection hotel in central San Antonio, formerly known as The Otis Hotel.

A news release said the new name, Plaza San Antonio Hotel & Spa, Autograph Collection, is a nod to the area’s roots and hotel’s past identifiers.

The 253-room hotel at 555 S. Alamo St. has had “plaza” in its name since it first opened in 1979 as the Plaza Nacional, making its new name a natural fit for this social gathering place, the release said.

The release also said renovations at the downtown hotel and spa are to give way to a grand reopening in the summer.

Representing an intersection of many diverse neighborhoods with rich cultural history, the “plaza” and its amenities bring people together just as it has since the hotel was originally built, according to the release.

The Plaza San Antonio features three 19th century bungalows, a garden oasis, oversized guest suites with modern amenities such as a resort-style pool, meeting rooms, bar and green spaces, and repurposed historic buildings that will shelter a new day spa.

Joe Pagone, White Lodging Regional vice president, said the new Plaza San Antonio will be a place where guests and locals can really connect surrounded by lush greenery in the heart of the city.

“Our goal is to remain authentic to the location and celebrate community connection, which is why it felt like the right decision to incorporate ‘plaza’ back into the name,” Pagone said.

The release said a 42-foot-tall Anaqua tree, once listed in the American Forestry Association’s National Register of Big Trees, is also integrated into the hotel landscape. Special signage referencing the hotel’s historic elements is also incorporated into the design.