ST LOUIS, June 3, 2015-- Downtown St. Louis is loud with the sounds of resurgence, echoing from the Gateway Arch to Washington Avenue.
The international travel company Marriott International is contributing to this symphony with a $30 million overhaul of Renaissance St. Louis Grand, historically known as the Statler Hotel. The hotel, which will now bear the company's flagship Marriott brand name, is at 800 Washington Ave. Renaissance is one of the 19 hotel brands that comprise the Marriott portfolio.
The Marriott St. Louis Grand will continue to be the official hotel of many conventions and hosts up to 400,000 travelers a year. To better serve these guests, the renovations, which began in November 2014, include a new Greatroom, technology upgrades, a sleek lobby space, modern guest rooms, an updated concierge lounge, opening of Zenia Bar & Grille, additional meeting space and an upgraded fitness center.
With respect to the historic value of the property, Marriott will maintain the iconic Crystal Ballroom of the original 1917 Statler Hotel, as well as the Statler Ballroom, which served as the lobby of the Statler Hotel. Both ballrooms will provide space for scalable meeting rooms and sophisticated wedding and event venues.
"The transition to a Marriott hotel is a natural response to the type of traveler our hotel is accustomed to hosting," says St. Louis Grand General Manager Nour Laasri. "We are looking forward to completing the transformation that will allow us to offer a full range of amenities that today's traveler expects."
A Smart Hotel
Every detail of the redesigned rooms in the new Marriott St. Louis Grand were made to fit the needs of today's travelers — from technology to sleekly appointed rooms featuring the signature Marriott Bed.
According to Forbes, millennials are 62 percent more likely to extend a business trip into a vacation and are quicker to embrace loyalty programs than older generations. As a group, they expect to stay connected socially and professionally while they are on the go. The Marriott St. Louis Grand is on the leading edge in the shift to "smart hotels." From the comfort and convenience of their rooms, Marriott St. Louis Grand guests will have free access to their personal Netflix, YouTube and music streaming accounts through the new 47-inch high-definition flat-screen TVs. These features are made possible via the Enseo guest room entertainment services, making the Marriott St.Louis Grand the first hotel in the city to offer the Enseo entertainment amenities.
Marriott also offers easy-to-use tech and applications for guests and hosts alike to make booking and check-in accessible through mobile devices. The Red Coat Direct App allows meeting planners to request, respond and connect in real time with the Red Coat Concierge, while the Attendee App provides meeting attendees with scheduling information to increase meeting engagement.
A Grand Transformation
Upon entering the lobby, visitors and guests will instantly notice a smart sophisticated style that is comfortable and uncomplicated, starting with the meeting spaces. The renovated Marriott St. Louis Grand boasts three new meeting spaces, making a grand total of 36 meeting rooms for more than 65,000 square feet of meeting space. View a time-lapse video of the transformation.
The Marriott Greatroom is the perfect open space to work, network and lounge or enjoy drinks at the Zenia Bar & Grille. Contemporary furnishings bring to life the warmth of the Greatroom and set the tone as an adaptive space that welcomes business and leisure travelers alike. Marriott designed the space with guests' needs in mind, and connectivity has never been easier. Each seat at the Zenia Bar & Grille features two USB and two electrical ports. Charging outlets are also located throughout the Greatroom, allowing guest's to enjoy connectivity, free high-speed Internet and a glass of wine from the bar all at the same time. As part of the renovation, the hotel increased bandwidth from 100 to 1,000 megabytes to elevate the Greatroom as yet another amazing workspace.
The transition is more than just cosmetic updates to rooms and services. The food and beverage departments will see upgrades with the opening of the 8th Street Pantry, a convenient "grab-and-go" store with breakfast sandwiches, Paninis, pizza and more. In addition, guests and locals can enjoy options locally sourced from the St. Louis area including Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, Billy Goat Chips, Fitz's Sodas and KaKao Chocolates.
"We are making more than just an investment in the hotel. We are making a commitment to the local community," said Laasri. "Our staff is proud to serve a role in revitalizing downtown by providing travelers from near and far with the type of stay they expect to find in an iconic city like St. Louis, one already known for its rich historical background, technology and business industries, great sports and countless cultural opportunities."
The hotel is just steps away from America's Center, St. Louis' premiere Convention Center. Short walks outside the front door can lead guests to the Edward Jones Dome and St. Louis landmarks like Busch Stadium and the Gateway Arch.
The Marriott St. Louis Grand redesign includes amenities for downtown commuters and residents and invites all to enjoy breakfast and lunch from the 8th Street Pantry, a delicious beverage from the onsite Starbucks and relax after work or events in the Zenia Bar & Grille.