The new look for the 302-room hotel is the first complete re-do since it debuted on Sept. 11, 2000 and is “everything you love about Marriott, with a modern twist,” according to Ryan Minton, general manager of Cincinnati Marriott North.
“It’s important for a lot of reasons,” said Minton, who has served as general manager since June 2016 at the hotel, the first to open off the Union Centre Boulevard interchange. “The biggest is to keep pace the level of competition that has come not only to this exit, but just the community in general. We have so much hotel inventory now and today’s guest, they want the newest, the latest, the greatest, so if you’re not updating, if you’re not keeping pace with that, you will get left behind.”
MORE: Butler County’s explosive hotel growth above state average
Here are five things to know about the extensive makeover at Cincinnati Marriott North:
1. The restaurant and bar are completely re-imagined
Gone is River City Grille, replaced by Butler’s Bar & Kitchen. The open concept restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, providing a daily breakfast buffet, plus a brunch buffet on weekends.
Created by Executive Chef Mark Axelson, the menu features locally sourced product from area farmers, butchers and bakers, and menu items that reflect the culture of the local community.
2. The private concierge lounge has been relocated and revamped
Moved from the eighth floor to the first floor so guests can enjoy the benefits while still feeling a part of the hotel community, the new M Club Lounge for Gold and Platinum Elite Marriott Rewards members features mornings with a continental breakfast and evenings of hot hors d’oeuvres, plus a self-serve, state-of-the-art Starbucks machine that dispenses coffee, lattes, espressos and hot chocolate. An automated wine dispenser for varying size increments at varying prices is accessible by a hotel key card that charges the beverage directly to a guest’s room. There’s also a filtered water dispenser and complimentary carbonated beverages and bottle water.
“There’s 365 full-service Marriotts like ours in the United States and there’s only about 60 that have the M Club,” Minton said. Non-reward members will have the opportunity to upgrade their hotel room package to include the M Club benefits.
3. The integrated Great Room gets down to business
The large fountain is gone from the hotel’s atrium, replaced by a mixed-use gathering space that can be reserved for events, as well as an open area for guests to get out of their rooms, mingle with other guests and even get down to business via retractable USB ports and electrical outlets.
“It’s a lot different,” said Stanley Browder, of Fairfield, while meeting with his supervisor in the remodeled area. “It’s open, but yet it’s private enough …. and it’s very conducive to work and even the outlets, there’s a lot of place you go (and) there’s not really a place to plug in.”
4. Guest rooms are outfitted to be inviting and entertaining
Each guest room’s renovation features new furniture, bedding, carpet, refrigerators, safes and 50-inch smart TVs that allow guests access to their own streaming channels, including Netflix, Hulu, Crackle, Pandora, YouTube and TED/Marriott. Sleek armoires replace bulky dressers, giving more space to each room and pull-out beds provide more sleeping options for families.
The redesign also means the creation of four new roomy studio suites, which feature dual entrances and an entertaining area. Bathrooms now include walk-in showers and new fixtures, commodes, mirrors and lighting and each floor’s hallways have been repainted and re-carpeted.
5. The new design is modern
The hotel’s former red and gold color scheme is gone, replaced instead with blues, grays and greens. Contemporary furniture, carpet, wall covering, art and photography are also employed to create a more open, welcoming environment. Also redone are the hotel’s fitness room and its swimming pool.
About the Author
