Over the next two years, Asheville’s BB&T office building will be transformed into a luxury hotel and renamed the Vandre Nouveau Hotel, the Asheville Citizen-Times report today. John McKibbon of McKibbon Hotel Group is developing the new, independent hotel.

The Vandre Nouveau is part of a new brand of Starwood hotel known as Starwood’s Tribute Portfolio. Starwood is based in Stamford, Conn. Here’s more from the Stamford Advocate:

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide chose an iconic Miami hotel to pioneer a new brand dubbed Tribute, with the new initiative to operate on a similar model to the hospitality giant’s Luxury Collection label that allows independent hotel owners to plug into the marketing muscle of Starwood. Starwood (NYSE: HOT) is among the largest employers in Stamford with more than 1,100 employees entering 2015 and plans to hire at least 200 more by the end of next year. In February, former CEO Frits van Paasschen left the company over disagreements with the board on strategy, with Starwood installing as interim CEO Adam Aron, a seasoned hospitality executive. Starwood’s planned new Tribute brand was in the works under van Paasschen, according to the Wall Street Journal, which reported that participating hotels would pay 10 percent of their room revenue to become part of Tribute, getting their properties listed on Starwood websites and their guests able to earn and redeem points under Starwood’s Preferred Guest (SPG) program.

So, Asheville, what do you think of the new look for the old BB&T? The Citizen-Times story goes on to say that the structure will be wider at the base and will have balconies. There will be a ground-level restaurant, meeting and event space. Part of the building will be remade into high-end condos, as well.

Image link for Vandre Nouveau Hotel.