JW Marriott Marquis Miami to build 50,000 square-foot indoor sports, entertainment complex

by Melanie Nayer on

JW Marriott Marquis Miami is feeling the heat, and building a 10,000-square-foot NBA-approved arena to quench its fever. When the hotel debuts in October, the new two-story entertainment facility will feature a basketball arena, as well as a full-size tennis court, world-renowned Jim McLean Golf School, Rik Rak Spa & Salon, virtual bowling alley, Met 2 Fitness and more.

The multiplex entertainment facility will take over the hotel’s 19th and 20th floors, which it will share with the 44-room Hotel Beaux Arts Miami, an art-infused, urban retreat located directly above the JW Marriot Marquis Miami.

According to Marriott, the entertainment complex will host an array of recreational activities including competitive and leisure sports, fitness, beauty and rejuvenation. There will be a high-tech 3D media room, and a furnished pool deck, which houses a heated stainless steel pool and whirlpool. The Jim McLean Golf School will offer skilled personal instruction, virtual golf simulators, two putting greens, lounge seating, a Pro Shop, and sweeping city views.

The basketball arena will have a multi-use portable floor system — the same flooring used at the Miami Heat’s home stadium, the American Airline Arena — that transforms into an NBA Approved Basketball court, a tennis court featuring the identical surface used at the Sony Ericsson Open or carpeted event space.

For those less sporty guests who still want to take part in the action, there will be a billards room and a virtual Bowling Alley that offers different themed lanes.

On the 20th floor will be the hotel spa, or as the Marriott is calling it: a sanctuary for wellness and relaxation. The full-service spa will also have a beauty salon and fitness center.

Looks like Miami is poised to be more than just beaches and bikinis come October.

Ritz-Carlton names Herve Humler President & COO; Simon Cooper to oversee Asia Pacific region for Marriott

by Melanie Nayer on

Herve Humler, one of the original founders of The Ritz-Carlton in 1983, has been named Ritz-Carlton’s President and COO.

Speculation of Simon Cooper’s assumed exit from the Ritz-Carlton company sent shock-waves through the Internet yesterday, but the real story makes sense: Simon Cooper, Ritz-Carlton’s president and COO for 9 years, has been named President & Managing Director, Asia Pacific, for Marriott International. Hardly a surprise to those of us who know the hotelier’s passion for the Asia market.

Both leadership changes are effective Sept. 1, and both come with an enormous amount of excitement, and of course, piqued interest, for both hotel brands.

Humler will
oversee 73 Ritz-Carlton hotels throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Caribbean, and will be at the forefront of opening more than 30 new hotel and residential projects currently underway with Ritz-Carlton.

Cooper will be responsible for leading the growth of Marriott International’s Asia market, which includes more than 130 properties and 70 hotels.
Cooper’s leadership helped expand the hotel’s vast international presence, and helped Ritz-Carlton beat out its rival Four Seasons in recent JD Power report, in which the hotel was given the highest ranking for “luxury hotels”.

What does this mean for hotel guests? Only time will tell, but we’ll be sure to update you as soon as we have more information.




Five basic facts about the hotel market, especially in New York

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Big-city hoteliers will be happier sooner than their small-time counterparts. It looks like demand for rooms in smaller cities is going to take longer to come back, with rate increases unlikely, it seems until next summer. The New York market has already shown a solid recovery, thanks to the corporate cards that keep road warriors away from home. For the little guys, though, the future isn’t as bright … at least, it won’t be until almost a year from now.

According to a study by Smith Travel Research, here are five interesting (and important) facts about the U.S. hotel market:

1. Flat occupancy: Small-town and highway hotels stayed basically flat for the first half of 2010, at 49 percent. Meanwhile, metro markets – like New York, Chicago and Washington, DC – pushed from 61 percent for the first half of 2009 to 65 percent for the same period in 2010.

2. Follow the money: Major hotel companies, including Marriott and Wyndham, have demonstrated that the cities have been kinder to them financially. The cash is coming from bigger city properties.
3. New York is crucial: Rates have been on the rise since March in New York, after the city experienced drops for almost a year and a half. This has been buoyed by business travel, which is where the real money is.

4. New York’s occupancy is 50 percent higher than the United States: While the overall U.S. occupancy rate reached only 56 percent for the first half of 2010, the city attained a level of 79 percent. Again, business travelers have contributed heavily to this trend.

5. Hotel rates dropped, except in New York: Excluding New York, U.S. hotel rates fell, on average, 2.7 percent (2 percent when you include New York). New York, which accounts for a mere 1.9 percent of room supply in the United States, it’s responsible for close to 6 percent of revenue.

According to USA Today:

“New York City is skewing the numbers,” David Loeb, an analyst at Robert W. Baird & Co. in Milwaukee tells Bloomberg. “Urban and suburban markets are doing the best while the others are recovering more slowly.”

[photo by Francisco Diez via Flickr]

Atlanta loses three hotels to weak market, two to become dorms

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Three hotels have succumbed to weakness in the Atlanta market. Among the recent casualties is the 502-room Marriott Renaissance. Rates have been pushed lower by an abundance of capacity that has caused even top brands to get stuck charging less than $100 a night. When there’s far more supply than demand, of course, this is what happens.

Joining the Renaissance in the graveyard will be the city’s Wyndam Garden Hotel and Baymont Inn & Suites. Georgia State University will be buying both and converting them to dorms. The future of the Renaissance remains uncertain, though 75 percent of its laid-off staff will be moving to other Marriott properties.

Given the state of the Atlanta hotel market, there’s the risk that more hotels could follow:

“More and more property owners are asking themselves the question, ‘Is operating this facility as a hotel really what produces the maximum economic return?'” Mark Woodworth, president of PKF Hospitality Research, tells the [Atlanta Journal-Constitution].

[photo by Nrbelex via Flickr]

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.