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Hotel's goal: Breathe new life into lobbies
The new Courtyard by Marriott in downtown Fredericksburg caters to the tech-savvy business traveler.
Date published: 7/9/2009
BY CATHY JETT The Courtyard by Marriott that opened at the corner of Charlotte and Caroline streets last week isn't just downtown Fredericksburg's first major chain hotel. It also features Courtyard's latest lobby design, which was crafted specifically to appeal to tech-savvy business travelers and the one piece of electronic gear they're never without. "The laptop is the center of the business traveler's life," said Brian King, Marriott's vice president and global brand manager. "When you design a hotel lobby around a laptop, you design differently." Take the "media pods" near the front entrance, for example, he said. These cozy, curved spaces include small tables where customers can meet with clients or colleagues, go online wirelessly or watch the news on a flat-panel TV on each pod's wall. "Five years ago, the business traveler was flying all day, and spent 45 minutes in their room downloading and answering e-mail--and not spending much time in the lobby," said King. Today, business travelers are using Blackberrys and other mobile devices to answer e-mails as soon as their plane hits the tarmac, so they have more time "to hang out with the other inmates" once they get to their hotel, as one focus group participant put it, he said. The focus group was part of a study Marriott does every four years to find out who does--and doesn't--stay at its 25-year-old Courtyard chain. King said he combed through the research to find the "hidden gems" necessary to rethink and redesign how Courtyard lobbies look and work. The new design, now in 50 Courtyards, features a number of public/private spaces like the media pods where customers can work on their laptops, and a communal table with electric outlets where customers can sit, plug in and go online while sipping drinks. The tables are "one of the first places that get used," said King. "That and the media pods." Marriott also has made changes to what he refers to as "the big death-star front desk," the 15-foot long black granite desk that put a barrier between customers and staff as they checked in or out. It's being replaced by two much smaller "welcome pedestals." "Now we stand in front of them and greet customers as they come in," King said. "It really changes behavior."
Date published: 7/9/2009
To Courtyard:
(posted by
smgj
, July 9, 2009 6:57 pm)
Marriott is the name. Courtyard is one of the brands. It is
not only for business travelers. It also is for tourist of historic
Frederiksburg. I've toured the hotel and it has the
Fredericksburg theme w/ a modern look and caters to all
types and ages. We don't always have to be negative. I
think Mr. Cook and Mr. Mitchell did a wonderful job; w/ no
complaints!
Wow-my goal in life is to answer my e mail in a lobby
(posted by
mustang2
, July 9, 2009 3:38 pm)
After all, the purpose is being seen right? Rather do it in my
pajamas in my room. Looks like the guests in the photo felt the
same way. LOL
Courtyard
(posted by
hokisteph5
, July 9, 2009 11:02 am)
I used to travel full-time for my job. I stayed mostly at Marriott properties. If downtown was going to have a "big downtown hotel" they should have tried to get a Marriott or Renaissance hotel. Both of those are better than a Courtyard.
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