El Tovar Hotel at Grand Canyon's South Rim to remain open during renovations

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. - The most recognizable hotel at the Grand Canyon's South Rim will be undergoing renovations over the next two years.

But the concessionaire that runs El Tovar won't completely shut down the building as originally planned.

Xanterra Parks & Resorts will spruce up guest rooms with new carpet, bedding and curtains, larger armoires and bigger flat-screen TVs. The roof will be replaced, and some structural problems will be fixed.

The plan was to shut down the hotel from January through mid-April for the renovations. The National Park Service asked Xanterra to reconsider.

Xanterra regional sales and marketing director Bruce Brossman says the company instead will do the renovation in two phases through 2015, leaving most of the 78 guest rooms open.