Marriott Archives – CULTURE MIX

Renaissance Hotels announces talent lineup and packages for Global Day of Discovery

May 10, 2017

The following is a press release from Renaissance Hotels:

Renaissance Hotels, part of Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR), today announced its sixth annual Global Day of Discovery will be held on May 17, 2017, at the brand’s 160 hotels around the world. Created to encourage business travelers to experience their “5 to 9” with as much vigor as they approach their “9 to 5”, Global Day of Discovery will spotlight hidden gems around the globe that give neighborhoods their soul: from underground art scenes to exotic local cuisines. Open to global guests and local residents, the worldwide celebration will also offer exclusive packages to Marriott Rewards members bookable with points for a limited time at Marriott Rewards Experiences Marketplace.

“For today’s business travelers, it is unexpected, Instagram-worthy experiences that create social currency and interesting cocktail conversation,” said George Fleck, Vice President, Global Brand Marketing & Management, Renaissance Hotels. “Knowing that today’s business brag is less about the predictable and more about the unusual, Renaissance Hotels is committed to bring the brand’s Business Unusual mantra to life and help guests capture these moments on Global Day of Discovery and beyond.”

Global Day of Discovery kicks off at each Renaissance Hotel with curated Business Unusual adventures brought to life by the hotel’s Navigator, who – counter to a typical concierge – knows a destination’s hidden gems and hand-picks local discoveries that cannot be found in a guidebook. For business travelers who may have 20 minutes, two hours or two weeks in a locale, the brand’s Navigators give guests a sense of the local neighborhood’s soul.

Renaissance Hotels Global Navigator and four-time James Beard award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern will celebrate Global Day of Discovery in Dubai. (Photo courtesy of Renaissance Hotels)

Among these events, the brand’s Global Navigator and four-time James Beard award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern will host Marriott Rewards members on a culinary expedition in Dubai, uncovering the under-discovered local cuisine of the United Arab Emirates, ahead of the highly-anticipated opening of Renaissance Downtown Hotel, Dubai later this year.

“My whole life has been a journey of discovery, traveling the world looking for the exotic, bizarre and unusual,” said Andrew Zimmern. “Renaissance embraces this passion as much as I do and echoes the notion that it is so important to try something new and get out of our comfort zone. I couldn’t be more excited to bring an unusual experience to new guests and local friends in Dubai for Global Day of Discovery.”

From the Garment District in New York City to the Deserts of Dubai, Local Neighborhoods Come Alive on Global Day of Discovery

In New York City, fashion designer Christian Siriano will act as the hotel’s guest Navigator, hosting a VIP meet-and-greet and cocktails to share his hidden gems in the Garment District and surrounding neighborhood of Renaissance New York Midtown Hotel. The package will include a three-night stay in the Skyline Suite (May 16-19, 2017); and access to the Freedom Tower observation deck to see NYC through a different lens. Guests and locals are invited to sip craft beverages and preview creations from local designers Andreeva and Saunder.
This year, Montreal‘s 375th Anniversary perfectly coincides with Renaissance Hotels’ Global Day of Discovery: meaning there will be an epic lighting of the iconic Jacques-Cartier Bridge followed by a celebration at the Renaissance Montreal Downtown. The event, which is open to guests and locals, will feature innovative musical artists and a stunning performance from Cirque Du Soleil. The exclusive package boasts additional access to for the high-energy show, Volta, from Cirque du Soleil in old Montreal Way, a two-night stay at the hotel and more.
In Paris, the brand’s six hotels will throw an exclusive party at the sought-after Salon Gustave Eiffel in the Eiffel Tower, boasting rare and exceptional views of the city. Guests staying at the Renaissance Paris La Defense, the Renaissance Paris Hippodrome de St Cloud, the Renaissance Paris Le Parc Trocadero, the Renaissance Paris Vendome, the Renaissance Paris Arc de Triomphe and Renaissance Paris Republique are invited to join at the hotel for the brand’s signature Punch Bowl ritual, an unusual cocktail creation and food pairing. They will be whisked to the Eiffel Tower for a Parisian party, featuring an exclusive DJ set from DJ FEDER, to discover the City of Light as the sun goes down.
Similarly in Shanghai, the city’s six Renaissance Hotels will celebrate Global Day of Discovery by bringing the city’s elegant nightlife scene from the 1920s to life for VIP guests and locals. Giving travelers a glimpse into the culture zeitgeist of the fleeting era, the event will take place at the iconic Paramount and embody a Hollywood-like glamour in classic Shanghai style. The historic nightclub and dance hall will boast the brand’s signature cocktail experience as well as intriguing, surprise performances.

The Bocce Court at the Renaissance Reno Downtown Hotel. (Photo courtesy of Renaissance Hotels)

Global Day of Discovery will Mark the Debut of The Renaissance Reno Downtown Hotel and Renaissance Atlanta Gateway Hotel:

Celebrating its grand opening on Global Day of Discovery, the Renaissance Reno Downtown Hotel will shine a light on the local artists and musicians in Reno amidst an emerging scene. Reno Philharmonic will be playing throughout the night, and the hotel’s downstairs “Hideaway” bar will be transformed into a speakeasy featuring Prohibition era drinks and local jazz performers. Guests and locals will have access by discreetly asking the bartender for the password, which will be handed to them via cocktail napkin. The energetic evening is likely to end on the hotel’s premier 25,000 sq. ft. Bocce Ball court converted from a casino and now the social hub of the hotel.
The Renaissance Atlanta Airport Gateway Hotel, the city’s first lifestyle hotel connected to the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport via the SkyTrain, will celebrate its opening on Global Day of Discovery. Designed by award-winning design firm, Rottet Studios with stunning art by Atlanta artists, the hotel will create a flight-inspired immersive event– with more glamour and less turbulence – complete with an imaginative play on Business ‘Unusual’ Class seating, an interactive art installation and a performance by electro soul duo LION BABE.

For the full lineup of performances and events planned on Global Day of Discovery and throughout the year at Renaissance Hotels, please visit www.renhotels.com/events; and join the conversation at #RenHotels and #BusinessUnusual.

Hotel Nia scheduled to open in Menlo Park, California in 2018

March 22, 2017

Hotel Nia is set to open in 2018 at 200 Independence Street in Menlo Park, California. The 250-room hotel, 11-story hotel located off of Highway 101, between San Jose and San Francisco International Airports. The hotel is also within 10 miles of downtown Palo Alto and Stanford University.

Hotel Nia will be part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, a handpicked collection of unique luxury hotels tied with Marriott’s reward program. The hotel is owned and developed by a joint venture of AECOM Capital and Ensemble Real Estate Investments with construction financing provided by ACORE Capital. Webcor Builders is the general contractor. Hotel Nia will be managed by Denver-based Sage Hospitality.

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Richmond Ashland opens for business

March 21, 2017

The 103-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Richmond Ashland has opened at 11625 Lakeridge Parkway in Ashland, Virginia. Located only 15 minutes from downtown Richmond, and 23 miles from Richmond International Airport, the Fairfield Inn & Suites Richmond Ashland offers guests convenient access to Richmond International Raceway, James River Cellars Winery, Hanover County Airpark, Harley Davidson, and Bass Pro Shop. The Fairfield Inn & Suites Richmond Ashland will operate as a Marriott franchise, jointly owned by Holladay Properties of South Bend, Indiana and Guest Services, Inc. of Fairfax, Virginia. Guest Services will also manage and operate the property.

Hotel amenities include an inviting living area in the lobby, signature “smart” room décor, a 24/7 Corner Market, an indoor swimming pool, an exercise room, lobby bar, valet laundry service, complimentary Wi-Fi, as well as fax and copy services. The hotel also offers 750 square feet of space to accommodate functions for up to 50 people.

AC and Moxy dual brand hotel set to open in Atlanta in 2018

March 21, 2017

The dual-branded AC and Moxy Hotel in Atlanta (Rendering courtesy of Noble Investment Group)

Marriott International and Noble Investment Group have done a groundbreaking of what will be Marriott’s first-ever combination of an AC and Moxy under one roof. According to a press release, the $70 million, five-story hotel project will rise on a full city block in Midtown Atlanta, and is expected to open in the middle of 2018.

The following is an excerpt from a Noble Investment Group press release:

With an entrance on 14th Street, the 133-room AC Hotel Atlanta Midtown will feature guestrooms and suites with modern and sophisticated design elements, plush seating and multifunctional workspaces. The 155-room Moxy Atlanta Midtown, which guests will enter on 13th Street, will feature stylish, tech-enabled bedrooms with optional mobile check-in and check-out; keyless entry; motion sensor lighting; internet TV in-room; USB outlets; and furiously fast and free Wi-Fi for ultimate connectivity.

Both hotels will have distinct hospitality experiences inside and will share a deck-top amenity level that will contain shared meeting space with outdoor break-out space, health and fitness and a rooftop pool and bar with outdoor fire pits.

As part of this project, Noble will also help establish the missing link in an extensive pedestrian connector. To be called the Arts Walk, the ground-level path will provide direct access for hotel guests and local residents to walk from 14th Street to the lively Crescent Avenue entertainment and dining district, to the more than 20 million square feet of corporate office and the world-renowned Woodruff Arts Center along 15th Street. The connector will eventually stretch from the Woodruff Arts Center to high-speed public transportation at the 10^th Street MARTA station.

2017 Coachella Festival: Marriott makes its Coachella debut with hotel-style tents and amenities

March 16, 2017

(Rendering courtesy of Marriott) — 1 Autograph Collection Hotels Tent (Rendering courtesy of Marriott International)

The following is an excerpt from a Marriott International press release:

Marriott International is furthering its commitment to music by bringing its lifestyle brands and loyalty programs to life at the 2017 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, held April 14 to April 16 and April 21 to April 23 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California. As an official partner of the festival, Marriott will showcase popular travel destinations to festival attendees at a sponsor tent on the festival grounds, giving visitors the opportunity to win trips to various Marriott International properties around the globe. Additionally, Marriott will be executing a Coachella first: flipping Safari tents into branded hotel rooms.

Marriott will be showcasing eight of its lifestyle brands— AC Hotels by Marriott, Aloft, Moxy, Westin, Le Méridien, Renaissance Hotels, Autograph Collection Hotels, and Tribute Portfolio—in the Safari campground area by turning the Shakir-style tents into fully furnished hotel rooms. Each tent will feature bedding, furniture, decor and stylistic elements unique to that hotel brand, complete with amenities and experiences. The experience includes:

Safari guest passes including access to “guest” viewing areas
Off-site private check-in
Air conditioning
Private restrooms and showers
Golf cart shuttles to and from the stages
Private parking adjacent to Safari Tent camping
Drop-off area for gear
Breakfast and late-night snacks
On-site concierge

Members of Marriott Rewards (which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards) and SPG will have the opportunity to book and stay in these tents during the second weekend of the festival (April 21-23, 2017) via Marriott Rewards’ Experiences Marketplace and SPG Moments.

Additionally, all guests attending the festival are invited to visit Marriott’s sponsor tent, where destinations from around the world will be brought to life in the desert. Visiting this tent could win festival attendees trips to properties such as Sthala, a Tribute Portfolio hotel in Ubud, Bali, and Autograph Collection Fontecruz Lisboa in Lisbon, Portugal. Elite members of Marriott Rewards and SPG will also receive exclusive access to a VIP area in the air conditioned tent, complete with upgraded festival experiences such as drink vouchers, Ferris wheel rides, and more.

* No purchase necessary. 18+. Must be Marriott Rewards member. Ends April 23, 2017. Rules available at http://bit.ly/2nkeDOz

SeaWorld Orlando launches Seven Seas Food Festival and partners with select Marriott brand hotels for discounts

March 7, 2017

(Photos courtesy of Marriott International)

SeaWorld Orlando has launched the inaugural Seven Seas Food Festival and has partnered with four Marriott brand hotels in Orlando to give special SeaWorld discounts and privileges to the hotels’ guests. The participating hotels are Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld, Residence Inn Orlando at SeaWorld, SpringHill Suites Orlando at SeaWorld and Fairfield Inn & Suites Orlando at SeaWorld.

According to a press release from Marriott International, the hotels’ guests will receive:

Complimentary front-of-the-line access at SeaWorld
Free scheduled transportation to SeaWorld, Aquatica, Universal Orlando and Pointe Orlando
Complimentary access to the SeaWorld Rescue World Tour
10 percent off dining at SeaWorld and Aquatica
10 percent off merchandise purchases of $50 or more at SeaWorld and Aquatica
Early entry into SeaWorld on select days all summer.

Every Saturday from February 11 to May 13, 2017, SeaWorld Orlando will host the first Seven Seas Food Festival. Guests are invited to sample and savor cuisine from all over the world, as well as local craft beers. In addition, the park will showcase live performances from musical acts such as Grupo Mania and ZZ Top.

Four Points debuts in New York City, Cleveland and Buffalo Grove

February 17, 2017

Four Points Manhattan Midtown West, the brand’s fifth hotel in Manhattan, has opened at 444 10th Avenue, less than a mile from Hudson Yards, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Penn Station and Madison Square Garden. Owned by Joy Construction and managed by Real Hospitality, the newly constructed Four Points Manhattan Midtown West offers 148 guest rooms (with many offering panoramic views of the Hudson River), a 24-hour fitness center, a business center, andfree Wi-Fi. Guests can enjoy full-service dining at Hudson Bar Room, the hotel restaurant serving American cuisine. At the hotel lounge, guests are offered Best Brews and BBQ, which features local beers on tap and seasonal barbecue-style appetizers.

(Photo courtesy of Four Points by Sheraton Cleveland Airport)

Four Points by Sheraton Cleveland Airport is now open at 4181 West 150th Street in Cleveland. Open since January 2017, it is the first Four Points hotel in the city. Owned by NextGen Hotels, the recently renovated Four Points Cleveland Airport has 147 guest rooms and 6,500 square feet of meeting space. Amenities include an indoor heated pool, a 24-hour fitness center, a business center, and fast and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. Guests will enjoy full-service dining and the brand’s Best Brews and BBQ, including refreshing local beers and seasonal barbecue-style appetizers at the hotel lounge. Four Points Cleveland Airport is nine miles from Progressive Field, 10 miles from the University of Cleveland and 12.5 miles from FirstEnergy Stadium.

Four Points Buffalo Grove opened in December 2016 at 900 West Lake Cook Road in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. Owned by Lake County Hospitality, the hotel has 152 guest rooms 1,280 square feet of meeting space and the restaurant Best Brews and BBQ. Four Points Buffalo Grove is 18 miles from O’Hare International Airport, 11 miles from Woodfield Mall, 10 miles from Chicago Botanic Garden.and five miles from Deer Park Town Center.

Courtyard by Marriott New Haven at Yale University unveils major upgrades

February 15, 2017

Courtyard by Marriott New Haven at Yale University at 30 Whalley Avenue in New Haven, Connecticut has completed a significant upgrade of its guest rooms and public areas.

The hotel features:

207 guestrooms and suites with marble and granite finishes
More than 1,600 square feet of flexible meeting and board room space
A fully-equipped business center and fitness center
Complimentary high-speed wireless internet access
A Bistro café offering both breakfast & dinner options and an evening bar, as well as a 24/7 grab & go market
Brand new lobby features media pods with cable television, a Boarding Pass Station, and an interactive GO Board for all news, sports, and local information

Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort Golf Club & Spa becomes JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort

January 25, 2017

Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort Golf Club & Spa in Florida has re-opened under the name JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort, following a $320 million renovation facilitated by ownership group Mass Mutual.

JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort includes Spa by JW, the JW Marriott brand’s exclusive global spa concept, created to demystify and reimagine the spa experience with treatments based on four core benefit states: calm, indulge, renew and invigorate. Guests can customize their spa experience, choosing from a variety of menu options from full-service treatments to express spa services that start at a 12-minute entry point and are bookable without an appointment. Additional spa programming includes daily beach yoga and weekly spa events.

The South Florida hotel also has a 94-room, adult-exclusive tower (scheduled to open in the fall of 2017), offering a rooftop pool, restaurant and a 12,000-square-foot indoor entertainment center. Designed by Florida-based design and architecture firm Edge of Architecture Inc., the new tower will have views of the Gulf of Mexico.

Once completed, the resort will have a total of 100,000 square feet of event space—equipped with the latest technology—and 810 guest rooms and suites.

In 2015, the resort began phase one of a three-phase makeover and brand conversion project, including expanded pool decks, a refurbished lobby, a new porte-cochere and grand front entrance. The second phase, which concluded on December 31, 2016, welcomed a complete transformation of guest rooms and resort culinary offerings, including the addition of two new signature restaurants—Ario and Maia—as well as an all-new beachfront tiki bar called Kane.

Residence Inn San Antonio Airport/Alamo Heights completes $3.4 million renovation

January 24, 2017

(Photo courtesy of Residence Inn San Antonio Airport/Alamo Heights)

Residence Inn San Antonio Airport/Alamo Heights at 1014 NE Loop 410 in San Antonio, Texas, has completed a $3.4 million renovation to its apartment-style suites. According to a press release from the hotel: “Wood floors add a lustrous touch to the decor, while new, contemporary furnishings in the spacious living areas allow visitors to relax and recharge in style … Outfitted with all-new stainless-steel appliances, the rooms’ full-size kitchens make preparing and cooking homemade meals more functional and stylish than ever before. Plus, guests can freshen up for the day ahead in renewed bathrooms, now featuring modern walk-in showers and bathtubs.”

The hotel also converted its former meeting space into a zone for social engagements, including The Residence Inn Mix, a gathering on Monday through Wednesday evenings where guests can meet and mingle over complimentary food and beverages. This transformation also afforded additional space to expand the hotel’s fitness center.

Residence Inn San Antonio Airport/Alamo Heights is three miles from North Star Mall; less than seven miles from San Antonio Zoo and The Witte Museum; and about nine miles from The Alamo and River Walk. Free amenities include high-speed Internet/WiFi service, daily hot breakfast, grocery shopping service and shuttle to and from San Antonio International Airport.