The Auburn University Hotel and Dixon Conference Center is the first property of the start-up company West Paces Hotel Group LLC. Founded by Horst Schulze, the group began in 2002. Based in Atlanta, several of the senior staff from the Ritz Carlton organization left to join Mr. Schulze in launching West Paces. The vision is to marry fine service and a teaching facility for the Auburn marketplace.

Many changes and renovations are ongoing in the hotel. Construction on the exterior is to be completed in March 2004. The newest addition will be enlarged and redesigned restaurant, which will be renamed “Arrcia.” The name of the sister city for study abroad in the School of Human Sciences, this restaurant promises to be an up-scale dining facility offering more than just Italian fare. The restaurant kitchen will also double as a teaching laboratory.

The Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art at Auburn University will open a 44-seat café for lunch, and will be serviced by the Auburn University Hotel and Dixon Conference Center.