TAMPA, FL (October 10, 2019) – The Tampa Marriott Water Street today announced the completion of its multi-phase transformation following an 18-month restoration, renovation and expansion. The extensive enhancements include the 727 newly renovated guest rooms and over 40,000 square feet of meeting spaces, a refreshed Great Room, and the addition of two new restaurant concepts, among other updates. A pivotal piece of the 56 acre, 9 million square feet mixed-use Water Street Tampa neighborhood, the redesigned hotel anticipates the needs of today’s business travelers and the desires of today’s Tampanians, providing an upgraded experience and fresh look to match. The grand unveiling of the Tampa Marriott Water Street comes on the heels of the hotel’s first-ever AAA Four Diamond designation.
“This marks the beginning of a new chapter for both the Marriott Water Street and downtown Tampa Bay,” said Ron McAnaugh, General Manager of the Tampa Marriott Water Street. “Throughout this transformation process, it was important to us that the hotel integrate with and serve as an amenity for the Tampa Riverwalk outside our doors, as well as the larger Water Street Tampa community, and we’re excited to debut the new hotel experience and deliver on that vision for guests and residents.”
CONCEPT & DESIGN
The Johnson Studio at Cooper Carry designed the hotel’s refreshed public spaces, including the stunning Great Room. The expansive communal area was opened up, and bulky palm trees were replaced with more design-focused pieces to offer a vibrant grand entrance and lobby. Fresh color schemes of blues and beiges and curated artwork nod to the property’s urban waterfront location. The elevated experience includes a new bar, complete with handcrafted beverages, shared plates, and live music on the weekends. Right off the Great Room, guests can now enjoy direct access to the adjacent 2.4-mile walkable, bike-able, drink-able Tampa Riverwalk, which connects culture and entertainment throughout downtown Tampa.
GUESTROOMS & SUITES
The 727 reimagined guest rooms and suites were completed in early 2018 in the first phase of the transformation. Designed by Looney & Associates, accommodations feature versatile furnishings and nautical accents of blue, modern white and gray, reflecting the property’s waterfront setting. Allergy-friendly textured flooring has replaced carpeting, and luxurious bathrooms boast ultramodern touches and hardware. Suites feature sleek, minimalist décor and bathrooms with soaking tubs, many with water views. Tech-forward features and upscale amenities include a 55” LED television, plug-in room technology, furnished patio space, and more in a generous living room layout ideal not only for relaxing with family but also for bridal parties, small meetings and other intimate get togethers. Engineered for comfort and wellness, the property offers one dedicated floor of Stay Well rooms equipped with air purification systems, aromatherapy, circadian mood lighting and vitamin-infused showers to help guests achieve better rest, more energy and reduced stress during their stay.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Earlier this year, the Tampa Marriott Water Street announced a new culinary partnership with world-renowned chef and restaurateur Richard Sandoval. Together, RS Hospitality and the Tampa Marriott Water Street debuted two original food and beverage concepts as part of the property’s culinary overhaul.
Garrison Tavern, a new gastropub and social house, opened in April 2019 with approachable dishes and contemporary comfort food to match the new outdoor patio seating and direct street access steps from Amalie Arena. The social house ambiance is enhanced by unique features including two indoor Top Golf Swing Suites with multi-sporting functions that nod to its sports culture, 20 local draft beers, four wines on tap, and a signature beer brewed by and in partnership with local Tampa Coppertail Brewery.
Anchor and Brine made its debut earlier this month. Its coastal-driven menus embrace the proximity to the waterfront and feature high-quality seasonal dishes for lunch and dinner service. The restaurant’s crowning feature, a signature raw bar, features a selection of oysters, salmon crudo, ceviche and an all-encompassing seafood tower serving oysters, clams, lobster, marinated scallops and shrimp. Fresh vegetables, soups and salads complement as additional light fare options, while heartier and warm entrees like pan-roasted halibut, butter poached lobster tail and cavatelli offer balance to the dining experience. Sandoval’s signature refined, yet approachable style is reflected in Anchor and Brine’s design along with the various food and drink menus. The venue offers both indoor and outdoor spaces that were intentionally designed to provide a casually elegant ambiance for year-round comfort. The 236-seat restaurant embraces the creative vision of The Johnson Studio at Cooper Carry with bright décor that echoes the natural elements of the waterfront with a reflective color palette driven by shades of blue, green, cream and grey along with subtle pops of citrus yellows throughout.
Additionally, Tampa Marriott Water Street added a Starbucks coffee shop on property and upgraded the Concierge Lounge to provide guests with a more refined experience.
MEETINGS & EVENTS
Located adjacent to the Tampa Convention Center and steps from Amalie Arena, Tampa Marriott Water Street offers over 40,000 square feet of newly reimagined meeting and event space with views of the water and downtown Tampa. The various venues include the 17,169 square-foot Grand Ballroom, 8,432 square-foot Florida Ballroom, 12 meeting rooms and two executive boardrooms. With the help of the hotel’s experienced planners and expert catering services, the flexible meeting and event spaces can host up to 2,500 people for weddings, galas, trade shows, corporate lunches, business meetings and more.
WATER STREET TAMPA
Water Street Tampa is being developed on 56 acres of contiguous land owned by Strategic Property Partners (SPP) in downtown Tampa along the waterfront. The phased Water Street Tampa development project commenced vertical construction in 2018 and is revitalizing the downtown Tampa core into an urban, mixed-use waterfront district consisting of approximately 9 million square feet of new commercial, residential, hospitality, cultural, entertainment, educational, and retail uses, totaling over $3.5 billion in private investment from SPP. The company is owned and capitalized through a partnership between Cascade Investment LLC, and Jeff Vinik. The development will also feature a brand new JW Marriott and Tampa EDITION, the city’s first five-star hotel.
“The Marriott Water Street’s transformation has been an amazing process to watch,” said CEO James Nozar of SPP, the hotel’s ownership group and commercial real estate development firm. “With modern design, fresh new culinary outlets through our partnership with Chef Sandoval, and seamless access to the adjacent Tampa Riverwalk and marina, the property now provides a unique hospitality destination in the heart of the dynamic Water Street Tampa neighborhood.”
