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Replicas of Courtyard flag’s redesigned public space on display at four major transit hubs
The Courtyard by Marriott chain has kicked off a two-month effort to introduce its new “Refreshing Business” lobby design to more travelers across the U.S. by putting replicas of that space in major U.S. transportation hubs. The company unveiled its first “lobby zone” earlier this week in New York's Grand Central Terminal, and will operate similar locales at the Chicago O'Hare, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson and Denver International airports from Sept. 15 through Nov. 14.
Each of these lobby zones will feature some of the new furnishings and amenities found in the more than 180 Courtyard lobbies across the U.S. By the end of this year, Marriott says Courtyard owners will have spent nearly $190 million to put the new-look lobby into nearly 260 hotels, and that the updated spaces will be found in 500 hotels the end of 2011.
The new lobbies are designed to give travelers options that allow them to make the most of their time on the road. The environments feature a variety of flexible seating options from a communal table in the middle of the action, more private media booths with high-definition televisions, to a more intimate, semi-enclosed lounge area. All these areas are equipped with several electrical outlets so guests can plug-in and charge their mobile devices and laptops while connecting to the free WiFi offered throughout the lobby.
A signature element of the new lobby is the interactive GoBoard, a 55-inch LCD touch screen offering local news, business and sports headlines from USA Today; the current weather forecast and up to date stock prices. Guests can also navigate the touch screen mapping feature to find restaurants, local attractions and print directions. The spaces also feature an all-new full-service dining outlet, The Bistro-Eat. Drink. Connect, which is open for breakfast and dinner.
To kick off the promotion, Marriott hosted a performance by Grammy Award-winning musician John Legend at the Grand Central lobby replica. “When Courtyard set out to redesign and reintroduce our new Refreshing Business lobby, the goal was create a space where travelers congregate that is contemporary, sophisticated and relevant,” said Janis Milham, vice president and global brand manager, Courtyard by Marriott. “In our minds, John Legend epitomizes those traits and was the perfect choice to kickoff our initiative and showcase the new lobby to travelers in an exciting and innovative way.”
Marriott's partners in creating the lobby zones include LG Electronics, FourWinds and Canvys.
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