Opening in December of 2016, Houston’s sleek new Marriott Marquis is another jewel in the crown that is downtown. This new 1,000-room hotel will feature many unique and luxurious amenities, including a Texas-shaped lazy river, Houston’s largest ballroom, a custom wine cave, and a prime location downtown, overlooking Discovery Green park. The opening of the Marriott Marquis is one of the many ways that Houston has been preparing for the 2017 Super Bowl. The Marquis’ decor has been styled to mirror the energy and spirit of Houston itself.
The Marquis Director of Sales & Marketing, Jay Marsella, described why Houston was selected by Marriott for this newest development. He listed Houston’s “ever growing population,” “allure as a leisure destination,” and “increase in downtown convention business” as reasons for the decision to increase presence in the area. The hotel even includes a climate-controlled skybridge that connects the George R. Brown Convention Center to the largest ballroom in Houston at 39,000 square feet.
A crucial element to the creators of the Marriott Marquis was to make the hotel truly inspired by and representative of Houston. As part of that effort, Houston icons Chef Hugo Ortega and Craig Biggio signed on to bring their new restaurant concepts to the Marquis. Ortega’s exotic “Xochi” and Biggio’s baseball-inspired sports bar will anchor the Marquis as a hotspot for locals and tourists alike along the newly created Avenida dining district. Biggio’s menu is fit for foodies as well as sports fans. The upscale sports bar plans on offering high quality steaks, burgers, and wings as well as local craft beers, wines, and cocktails. More info will soon be release on Ortega’s “Xochi” concept.
The Texas-shaped roof-top lazy river is the only Texas-shaped lazy river in the world, as well as the world’s largest rooftop lazy river. This pool level, called the Parkview Terrace, also includes an infinity pool and an events pavilion which is perfect for outdoor events of all kinds, since the view from the roof includes both Discovery Green park and the Houston skyline. The pool level also features a state-of-the-art fitness center and full-service spa with 7 treatment rooms. Marsella has said that all amenities are limited to guest use, but the Marriott is planning to offer special staycation deals for H-town residents.
The Marquis also proudly features four Vice Presidential Suites, as well as two Presidential suites. These expansive rooms have some of the best available views of downtown Houston, with an excellent location coupled with floor-to-ceiling windows. Special attention was given to each suite, and treated in a unique manner to make sure the layout and design was connected to the rest of the rooms while also being its own individual project rather than simply a bigger than average room. The prestige and excitement surrounding the creation of the Marriott Marquis in general is an indication of Houston’s unique flair, as well as a trend of sustained growth.
