AUSTIN, TEXAS (February 17, 2020) – Exactly like nothing else in Austin, The Otis Hotel, Autograph Collection, and AC Hotel Austin-University, a dual-branded hotel located in the heart of the city’s vibrant campus district, is set to debut February 20, 2020. The 11-story property brings four new restaurants and bars, as well as 347 new rooms to the city – The Otis Hotel with 191 rooms, including 13 suites and 16 corner studios, and AC Hotel Austin-University with 156 rooms, including two suites.
“The Otis Hotel and AC Hotel Austin-University will be the first of its kind in the campus district, redefining the neighborhood as an elevated destination for visitors to Austin,” said General Manager Thomas Hoffmann. “Playing off our location adjacent to the University, The Otis will inspire curious travelers through unique academic-inspired design and programming.”
The Otis Hotel: An Educated Choice
The Otis Hotel is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, an exclusive portfolio of independent hotels around the world. Austin’s culture and rich history provided inspiration for the hotel as the educated choice for easygoing luxury in the campus district. The hotel’s design features subtle nods to academia, including a corkboard wall fixture, chalkboard blue features, and cerused oak paying homage to the 300-year-old Battle Oaks on the nearby UT campus.
Each of the guestrooms will feature unique touches, including in-room record players for guests to play vinyl from the hotel’s music library. In addition, the hotel’s dedication to scholarly passions will be embodied by a masterclass series on the hotel’s rooftop with educational topics such as mixology, stargazing, local history, and more including an orientation, of sorts, for parents of students new to UT’s campus. The Otis Hotel will also set the soundtrack to your stay with an on-site Vinyl Ambassador, who serves as a staff music professor offering personalized, curated musical experiences for guests who want to dive deeper into the beautiful artistry of vinyl.
The AC Hotel Austin-University is the lifestyle brand’s first property to open in Austin. Introduced to the U.S. in 2014, the AC Hotel by Marriott brand originated in Europe in 2011. Offering contemporary design with meaningfully selected décor, the hotel has a vibe that’s sophisticated, yet decidedly uncomplicated with natural hues, richly textured finishes, and carefully curated pieces from Austin’s thriving art community. The hotel features a unique restaurant and wine bar with a second-floor terrace overlooking West Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Inspired Dining
Under the guidance of acclaimed Executive Chef Martin Wilda, four restaurant and bar concepts take dining in the university district to a whole new level.
- Acre 41– A reference to the University of Texas’ nickname, “40 Acres,” Acre 41 is the first modern, upscale neighborhood restaurant in Austin’s campus district. Featuring dressed-up American classics, the menu includes oysters, 100 percent American wagyu beef, fresh fish, belly-on pork chops and sushi.
- Bar AC– A Spanish-inspired bar and restaurant, Bar AC offers classic cocktails including a signature sangria and elevated wine program. Authentic tapas round out the food menu in a comfortable and stylish environment. The wine menu will feature unique, often hard to find glass pours, perfect for enjoying al fresco on the second-floor outdoor terrace.
- Burger Bar on Campus– Within walking distance from campus, Burger Bar pays homage to the legendary food trucks of Austin. The campus location is the concept’s second in downtown. The locally sourced brisket blend and premium American wagyu beef will be instant favorites for students, burger addicts and aficionados who love quality beef. In addition to juicy burgers, the walk-up counter concept will feature hand-spun shakes, crispy fries, craft beer and American wine.
- Otopia – The only luxury rooftop pool and bar in the campus district, Otopia offers one-of-a-kind food, beverage and entertainment experiences from sun-up to sundown for hotel guests. Otopia’s menu includes the only raw beef and sushi bar in Austin, available in four classic approaches: Carpaccio (Italian), Tiradito (Peruvian), Tartare (French) and Tataki (Japanese). Otopia will host regular weekly programming including DJs and a masterclass series and comes complete with cabanas and an expansive terrace with spectacular skyline views of downtown and campus. The rooftop is available for non-hotel guest through a private membership, which includes exclusive access to the pool, bar, special events and more. Those interested in the private membership can apply directly at www.otopiarooftop.com.
Premium Event Offerings
Business blends with pleasure at The Otis Hotel with more than 7,100 square feet of flexible meeting space. The gorgeous ballroom offers 3,480 square feet of well-appointed space for larger gatherings and weddings. Even more, five smaller meeting rooms give event attendees the perfect spots for brainstorms and strategy sessions.
Both hotels are developed and managed by White Lodging. By the end of 2020, White Lodging will own and or operate 15 hotels in Austin, including the 613-room Austin Marriott Downtown scheduled to open in mid-2020 and the Moxy Austin-University scheduled to open in November 2020.
For more information, visit otishotel.com and achotelaustinuniversity.com.
