Plano's Former NYLO Hotel Relaunches as The Clara After $4M Renovation

The NYLO on Preston Road opened in December 2007 as the first property launched by the NYLO Hotels brand and, by one account, the first loft-style lifestyle hotel in the United States. Nearly two decades later, the address is getting a new name, a new identity, and a $4 million overhaul.

The Clara Hotel is set to debut this spring at 8201 Preston Rd., in the former NYLO Dallas/Plano Hotel space, following a $4 million renovation. The property was acquired in August 2025 by NewcrestImage, a Dallas-based family office investment firm with an extensive portfolio of hospitality and real estate assets across the United States, known for repositioning and developing distinctive hotel properties. The company previously acquired the NYLO Providence/Warwick asset in Rhode Island and rebranded it as The Loom Hotel within the Tapestry Collection, a near-identical playbook to what is now unfolding in Plano.

"We saw an opportunity to thoughtfully transform this property into something that feels deeply connected to its surroundings and to today's traveler," said Mehul Patel, managing partner at NewcrestImage. "From the materials and textures to the programming and hospitality approach, every element is being reimagined to deliver something distinctive for this market."

The Clara will maintain the NYLO's affiliation with Hilton's Tapestry Collection, but nearly every guest-facing element, including interiors, food and beverage, service approach, and brand positioning, has been reimagined under the new ownership. The renovated property will feature 176 guest rooms, including eight suites categorized as Junior Suites, One-Bedroom Suites, and Presidential Suites.

The hotel draws inspiration from natural textures, layered light and organic materials, introducing wood finishes, refined paneling, greenery and a softer, more welcoming palette throughout guest rooms and public spaces. Guest rooms are being repainted and redesigned to create a warmer, more residential feel, anchored by tactile materials and calming tones.

The food and beverage program represents one of the sharpest departures from the old NYLO experience. Field & Vine, the hotel's reimagined restaurant, will offer an approachable yet elevated dining experience designed for both guests and locals. The Library, a newly transformed space within the hotel, will operate as a library-inspired lounge by day and an intimate, reservation-only speakeasy Thursday through Saturday evenings. The Library replaces a previously multifunctional gathering space.

Outdoors, the renovation extends to a substantial events footprint. An already-existing heated outdoor pool will remain a central feature, but with a refreshed patio and courtyard experience. The courtyard is a 4,000-square-foot outdoor space that will receive new landscaping, turf, and flexible seating, creating a venue for events and gatherings of up to 300 guests. Indoor meeting spaces include two meeting rooms with capacity for 30 or 50, as well as two boardrooms with capacity for 4 or 10 people.

Located in Plano's Legacy corridor, just minutes from Frisco's retail, dining and entertainment destinations, the hotel offers convenient access to North Texas' most dynamic business and lifestyle hubs. Though technically a Plano address, the property sits near the Plano-Frisco border and benefits from proximity to both communities. Its location about 20 miles north of downtown Dallas also offers guests access to the region's business centers, and the hotel sits close to major sports organizations in Frisco, including the Dallas Cowboys.

Patel, who also serves as CEO of NewcrestImage, noted at the time of acquisition that the firm had previously owned five hotels in the Frisco/Plano market. "We are very familiar with the area's attractive metrics for both short and long-term returns," he said. The company currently owns more than 45 hotels and has been involved in transactions totaling more than $3 billion involving nearly 300 hotels and close to 32,000 rooms.