After a little more than a year of work, a downtown Rochester hotel now has a new look.
Like its downtown siblings The Kahler Grand and Kahler Inn & Suites, the Rochester Marriott at 101 First Ave. S.W. was marked by owner Sunstone Hotels for a major renovation last fall. The cost of the multi-hotel project was estimated at more than $10 million.
After months of work inside and out, Sunstone declared the Marriott project complete, with the keystone being its new Great Room lobby concept.
"The transformed spaces and upscale design will enhance our guests’ stay experience, in addition to increasing the comfort level of Mayo Clinic patients and their families who stay with us," said Marriott General Manager John Peart in a statement released by Sunstone.
The Great Room design is something Marriott has embraced in many of its high-profile properties.
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It is described as modernizing the hotel's public space, "blending natural elements with accents of visually stimulating colors, textures and warm tones to create a sophisticated yet relaxing atmosphere."
And if the colors, textures and tones aren't enough to relax you, Vino’s Restaurant with its full bar also was renovated. It now serves breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as Starbucks coffee.
Another change in the revamped lobby is that the traditional hotel reception desk has been replaced by three "check-in pods." The idea is that the pods offer guests more individualized experiences to begin their stay at the hotel.
The Marriott's 203 guest rooms were upgraded with new furniture, high-definition televisions, bathrooms, flooring, tile and lighting. The hotel's indoor pool and spa also were updated.
This is part of the same project that re-worked the Kahler Grand Hotel's Heritage and Windsor meeting halls.
California-based Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc.'s properties in Rochester include the Kahler Grand Hotel, Kahler Inn & Suites, Rochester Marriott, Residence Inn by Marriott and the high-end hotel-within-a-hotel called International Hotel that occupies two floors in the Kahler Grand. Overall, Sunstone has properties in Rochester totaling 1,231 rooms. They are managed by Interstate Hotels and Resorts.
