Golf legend Arnold Palmer signs SpringHill hotel project

by Melanie Nayer on

Golf master Arnold Palmer can now add “hotelier” to his impressive resume.

Palmer is partnering with Concord Hospitality Enterprises to build a 109-key SpringHill Suites by Marriott hotel near his Latrobe Country Club in Pennsylvania. The hotel will be jointly owned by Palmer Hospitality LP, Concord and Keith H. McGraw, is slated to open late next year.

What can guests expect? A lot of green. Palmer’s golfing career will be the inspiration for the hotel’s design, which will feature everything from his awards to golf memorabilia. The hotel will be a LEED-certified prototype that was pioneered by Concord in conjunction with Marriott.

The all-suite concept will offer separate areas for sleeping, working and relaxing, and will feature complimentary daily breakfast buffet, in-suite microwave and mini-fridge, pull-out sofa bed, free high-speed Internet access, swimming pool and whirlpool, fitness room and on-site business services.

We’re pretty sure the SpringHill Suites will offer shuttle service to the golf course, too.

Chicago Marriott and Nickelodeon partner for unforgettable family getaway

by Melanie Nayer on

Your kids have a problem, and it’s in the TV. They squeal with delight at the sight of SpongeBob and lose their minds when Big Time Rush comes on air. Now, Marriott and Nickelodeon are partnering to make your kids’ dreams come to life (and likely give you an extended headache with all the screaming, but it’s not about you, it’s about the kids).

The Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile is located within walking distance to the best shopping, restaurants, and attractions in downtown Chicago. Of course, it’s also near Navy Pier, so you can take your kids (and their SpongeBob dolls) to the famous ferris wheel for an afternoon. Book the “Nickelodeon Your Stay” package and your kids will enjoy:

  • Free Nickelodeon activity book
  • Silicone bracelet with access to a secret game website
  • Nickelodeon bag with sunglasses
  • Build Your Own SpongeBob
  • Splash ball
  • Turndown service with pillowcase and bedtime book

Be sure that promotional code NK6 appears in the Corporate/Promotional code box when making your online reservation.

As for you? We’re happy to report that the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile has a lobby bar with 24 beer taps to choose from and a great top shelf liquor for those who need a something stronger than a beer.

Survey says: Hotel guests generally happier with their stays

by Melanie Nayer on

It’s no surprise the hotel industry is making a strong comeback. When travel started to falter in the down economy, hotels kept the spirit alive with the ‘staycation’ craze. Now, as more people start spending money on much-needed vacations again, the hotel industry is once again at the forefront of recreating the ultimate customer service experience and according to travelers, hotels are doing a pretty good job.

The latest survey results from J.D. Power and Associates says guests have generally been happier with their hotel experience over the past year. The study finds that the proportion of hotel guests making reservations online has increased in 2010. Not surprisingly, a drop in hotel prices had a little something to do with this, but we’ve heard from more hotels that customer service and personalized guest programs have been at the forefront of their efforts over the past year.

So, how has your hotel stacked up against its competition? The latest study measures how well hotel chains satisfy their customers and ranks the hotels by economy-budget to upscale-luxury. The study leaves out independent chains and hotels, but more well-known brands like Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, Marriott, Embassy Suites and Hilton are part of the survey. Drury Inn & Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Homewood Suites, Microtel Inns & Suites, Omni Hotels and The Ritz-Carlton rank highest in customer satisfaction.

The following hotel brands rank highest in guest satisfaction within their respective segments:

Luxury: The Ritz-Carlton
Upscale: Omni Hotels & Resorts
Mid-Scale Full Service: Hilton Garden Inn (for a second consecutive year)
Mid-Scale Limited Service: Drury Inn & Suites (for a fifth consecutive year)
Economy/Budget: Microtel Inns & Suites (for a ninth consecutive year)
Extended Stay: Homewood Suites

We’re curious: Do you agree with the results? Were you satisfied with your most recent hotel stay?

Marriott introduces first LEED green hotel prototype

by Melanie Nayer on

South Carolina is now home to the first Marriott LEED green hotel prototype. The Courtyard Charleston/Summerville will be the hotel’s flagship green property, in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

The new Courtyard hotel will open in early 2010 and will introduce the first phase of The Parks of Berkley, a community consisting of 5,000 acres and one of the largest planned developments in the Southeastern United States.

Marriott has set its sights on 300 LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) hotels by 2015, and all the hotels to come will follow the South Carolina prototype. Last fall, the hotel group announced plans to develop a green hotel prototype for its Courtyard brand that will save roughly $100,000, six months in design time, and up to 25 percent energy and water savings for its owners.

Currently, Marriott has nearly 50 hotels across all brands that are LEED-certified or registered by the USGBC, including:

  • The Inn & Conference Center by Marriott at the University of Maryland, the first LEED-certified hotel in North America
  • The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte in North Carolina, LEED Gold-certified
  • Courtyard Chevy Chase in Maryland, LEED Gold-certified
  • Courtyard Portland City Center in Oregon, LEED Gold-certified
  • Fairfield Inn & Suites Baltimore Downtown/Inner Harbor, LEED Gold-certified
  • Atlanta Marriott Gateway, applying for LEED certification upon opening
  • SpringHill Suites Atlanta Airport Gateway, LEED-registered, applying for certification
  • JW San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, LEED-registered, applying for certification
  • JW Marriott Hotel Los Angeles LA Live, LEED-registered, applying for certification
  • The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles at LA Live, LEED-registered, applying for certification
  • The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe, in Nevada applying for certification
  • TownePlace Suites Baltimore BWI Airport, applying for LEED-Existing Building certification

Courtyard by Marriott helps guests count calories

by Melanie Nayer on

Courtyard by Marriott is getting into the spirit of dieting. The hotel chain is revamping their menus and offering additional information next to items, including calories and fat count.

The “calorie count menus” will be available later this month at The Bistro – the hotel’s food and beverage outlet. The Bistro, which is located in more than 150 hotels in North America and plans to double by the end of the year, focuses on a grab-and-go dining concept that offers guests a variety of options for breakfast and dinner.

Courtyard by Marriott says the move put the hotel brand “on the forefront of the U.S. healthcare reform bill, which will require all chain restaurants in the U.S. to post calorie counts on their menus.”

As part of the menu additions, The Bistro will also offer healthy options like low-carb, low-fat muffins and salads. For those wanting a little more fat content, there will still be BBQ ribs and beers available.

The new menus at The Bistro are just another way Marriott International is helping guests live a healthier lives. In 2007, Marriott announced it was eliminating trans fats in fried foods and deep frying oils, and in 2006 Marriott went “smoke-free” at all hotels. Guests at Marriott Hotels & Resorts and JW Marriott Hotels can take part in the Fit For You program, and at Renaissance hotels, the Eat.Drink.Balance program offers options for low fat, low cholesterol and carb conscious foods.

We applaud this initiative by Marriott and look forward to seeing more hotels help guests live healthier lifestyles. In the meantime, we’ll look away while you grab a double-fudge brownie before bed.