The Statler Hotel is celebrating the completion of a major renovation of its 153 guest rooms -- the most ambitious décor and amenities upgrade since the hotel opened its doors in 1989.

The renovations, which took place between November 2009 and March 2010, were designed to make the rooms more functional for today's electronics- and work-laden travelers, as well as more attractive and representative of Cornell's character and scenery.

They also took into account recommendations from 140 people in a series of focus groups that included frequent travelers, housekeeping staff and members of organizations that bring guests to Cornell regularly.

"We looked at every type of traveler that we have," said Rick Adie, general manager of the Statler.

The new rooms include ergonomic chairs and modern desks, additional easy-to-reach electrical outlets, enhanced lighting and seating to accommodate small group sessions.

Twin beds have been replaced by double or queen-sized beds outfitted with Four Seasons pillow-top mattresses and custom-designed Cornell throws. Many rooms include sleeper sofas as well, and every room features photographs of campus scenery by Cornell University Photography.

Other updates include refrigerators; 37-inch, energy-efficient LCD televisions; and a new design scheme that incorporates accents in Cornell red.

And while there are more elements in each room now, Adie said, the space is also used more efficiently -- so rooms feel bigger, not more crowded.

Response so far has been overwhelmingly positive, Adie said. "It's been fairly incredible -- we have a lot of loyal customers, and [they say that] it's comfortable, they love the bed, they find it to be stylish. It's really rewarding to see that feedback."

Both a first-class property and a teaching hotel, the Statler employs approximately 200 students who work with professionals across all hotel and restaurant operations. A select group of students progress along chosen career tracks, rising into management positions through participation in the School of Hotel Administration's Leadership Development Program. Additionally, many faculty members work closely with hotel leadership to integrate hotel operations into the curriculum.

For the project, Adie and his team worked with WATG, the world's leading hotel and destination design firm. Contributing companies were Allergy Technologies, American of Martinsville, Audit Logistics, Benjamin West, Chapman Manufacturing Co., LLC, Charter Furniture, Contract Décor, International, Frette, Jhane Barnes, Sealy, Shaw, Soho Myriad and Valley Forge.

Rooms range between $180 and $265 per night, a 3 to 4 percent increase over last year's rates.