ST. LOUIS (July 29, 2015) – After being shuttered since 2011, the original Hotel Lennox – once known as St. Louis’ tallest hotel – will re-open Sept. 2, the same day that the hotel originally opened in 1929, as The Courtyard by Marriott St. Louis Downtown/Convention Center Hotel. The newly revitalized hotel will be one of the most unique and historically significant Courtyard-branded hotels in the country. The hotel has undergone a significant renovation, with an investment of over $22M into the property during a 16-month restoration, and will operate as a Courtyard franchise, owned and managed by affiliates of Maritz Wolff & Co. (dba Lennox Suites, LLC) whose principals are natives of St. Louis and previously owned The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis.
The property, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is located at 823-827 Washington Avenue and was originally designed by Preston Bradshaw, one of the most significant St. Louis architects in the 1920s. The hotel was built in the Renaissance Revival style, with terracotta faces and cornices, during the commercial boom of the 1920s, which have been painstakingly preserved by the new owners. The most notable interior features of the original building, which have been fully restored, are the interior green marble wainscoting, wood paneling and ornamental brass elevator doors in the lobby. The multi-million dollar renovations truly blend the building’s historical elements with modern day amenities. Hotel Features Include:
• 165 suites converted to extra large newly furnished guest rooms averaging 450 square feet
• Wet bars, security safes, and oversized refrigerators in every room
• 55″ HD SMART TVs in the majority of the guest rooms with the most current industry entertainment package including streaming capabilities previously only available at home
• All new furniture and fixtures designed by St. Louis’ Lawrence Group Architects
• Mid-century modern furnishings throughout hotel include pieces inspired by Eames and Saarinen
• Commissioned artwork from well-known local artists including Ted Collier and Alicia LaChance to showcase the hotel’s heritage
• Comfortable guest bathrooms featuring modern back lit mirrors and updated Spiekman shower heads
• Just 8 guest rooms per floor making the hotel attractive to smaller groups and families who could occupy an entire floor for a convention, conference or family get-together
• State-of-the-art business center, 24/7 Market, Bistro with grab ‘n go snacks and sit down meals, and Starbucks coffee
• Enhanced bar offering several local beers on tap and multiple televisions
• Fitness center featuring Life Fitness cardio equipment and free weights
• 1,100 square feet of meeting space to accommodate functions of up to 100 people
• Building-wide access to high speed internet and Wi-Fi with an abundance of hot spots and scalable bandwidth and comfortable lounging spaces including media pods
• Home theater and library within lobby design, offering interesting open social spaces
• Reward points to the Marriott Rewards program which can be redeemed at over 3,700 hotels worldwide as well as for global merchandise
Located in the heart of Washington Avenue District within walking distance to many of St. Louis’ leading business, 40+ restaurants, and major sports and entertainment venues, the hotel is the only one physically connected to the Convention Center. The Courtyard anticipates hiring up to 48 staff members at a job fair on August 5th. Additional information on the job fair will be available next week.
The development and management team from Maritz Wolff is led by Patrick Lowery and Jeffrey Barone, who both have hands-on Ritz-Carlton experience locally in the beginning of their careers (serving in various Sales and Marketing and Finance roles, respectively) as well as more than 30 years combined experience in hotel and resort asset management and ownership. General Manager, Aaron Duncan, has spent a decade in the St. Louis market including a tenure at the Hilton at the Ballpark.
“The Hotel Lennox had some amazing architectural elements and a rich history that make the building truly unique and original; today it will offer downtown visitors an intimate boutique hotel option, with only eight rooms per floor – a dramatically different experience than one would find at most massive convention hotels. Our goal in this project is to provide our guests with the best of both worlds – 1920s architectural charm combined with modern design in the public spaces and state-of the-art amenities in our guest rooms,” says Patrick Lowery, Principal, Maritz Wolff & Co. The company anticipates that the strong reputation of the Marriott brand, coupled with the proximity to the Convention Center, downtown nightlife and St. Louis attractions, will attract a wide range of guests. Lowery states, “We are thrilled to be a part of revitalizing downtown St. Louis and strengthening its position in both the business and tourism arenas.”
The property is ideal for both business and leisure travelers given its location, price point and offerings. For more information visit http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/stldw-courtyard-st-louis-downtown-convention-center/.
