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B M & T ••• November/December 2022 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 8 H O T E L H A P P E N I N G S MARRIOTT COLUMBIA COMPLETES GUEST ROOMS AND SUITES RENOVATION Marriott Columbia announced the completion of its guest rooms and suites renovation. Owned and managed by Columbia Sussex, the Marriott Columbia is located on Main Street in the heart of downtown Columbia, which encompass- es a 36-block area, and is minutes from the State Capital, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, historic homes, and Bull Street Stadium. Columbia also is home to the University of South Carolina and has hosted Southeast Conference football teams, fans and performers at Colonial Life Arena and Township Auditorium from Bob Dylan to Elton John. Groups of all sizes and leisure travelers visiting the area as a destination will find more than 50 restaurants, eclectic shop- ping and an old country store, and arts and cultural attractions including 36 properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the best of independent films at the Nickelodeon Theatre and the award-winning Columbia Museum of Art. Marriott Columbia is the largest hotel downtown featuring a unique blend of Southern comfort and urban style. The full- service hotel offers Southern American cuisine in its Midlands restaurant and adjoining lounge and features the most amount of flexible meeting and event spaces in down- town Columbia, with 24,000 sq. ft. that accommodates groups ranging anywhere from five to 800 people. The hotel's room renovations mirror the richness of Columbia's first neighborhood, from a nod to its history and culture, to nature and the dynamic metropolitan lifestyle of the city. All 300 guest rooms, including the Governor's Suite, Parlor Suites, Jr. Suites and Balcony Suites, have been reno- vated to reflect the new design philosophy, coupled with a contemporary and upscale twist reflecting the Marriott brand's comfortable, modern aesthetic. The complete redesign of the hotel's guest rooms included the appointment of entirely new furniture and furnishings. The guest rooms and suites take advantage of the stunning city views, including of Boyd Park at the Columbia Art Museum, Arsenal Hall, and Historic Main street, with expan- sive windows generously placed to allow natural light to fill the rooms and suites. Artwork and furnishings complement the focus on the area's traditional roots with contemporary materials and amenities. The rooms and suites feature neutral color palettes with pops of rich blue and grey hues, juxtapos- ing natural wood and metal materials with contemporary designs and thoughtfully curated artistic focal points. Additionally, each luxurious guest room is designed for optimal rest and productivity with architectural framing, con- trasting finishes and thoughtful solutions to enhance a guest's stay, such as: • Convenient wall outlets, lamp outlets and nightstands outfitted with USB ports for multiple electronic devices • Luxurious bedding with cotton-rich linens and fluffy pil- lows • High-speed Wi-Fi and a large desk with a well-lit work- space, comfortable chair and plug-in panels • 50-inch flat-panel TVs with the Marriott Entertainment Package, including premium cable and movie channels to keep guests well-entertained • In-room coffee bar • Strategically placed mirrors, including backlit vanity mir- ror and full-length mirrors The Marriott Columbia features three concierge levels and a Concierge Lounge. Concierge level guests enjoy turndown service (upon request) and access to the Concierge Lounge on the 14th floor, which features expanded continental break- fast and evening hors d'oeuvres, desserts and bar service. Marriott Columbia has implemented a number of health guidelines and safety measures to allow people to feel com- fortable traveling, including the option for an entirely con- tactless stay, social events designed to allow for social distanc- ing, restrictions on fitness center capacity, housekeeping access to guest rooms, and thorough cleaning and sanitation protocols throughout the property that follow Marriott International's Commitment to Clean standards. For more information about Marriott Columbia please call 803.771.7000 or visit https://www.marriott.com/en- us/hotels/caemh-marriott-columbia/overview/. WYNDHAM HOTELS & RESORTS ANNOUNCES FIRST GROUNDBREAKING FOR ITS NEW EXTENDED-STAY BRAND New-Construction Hotel in Plano, Tex. is the First Ground Break for the Extended-Stay Brand With 72 Hotels in the Development Pipeline Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world's largest hotel fran- chising company with approximately 9,000 hotels across 95+ countries, celebrates the first groundbreaking of its new extended-stay brand, in Plano, Texas. The all new-construc- tion brand, operating under the working title "Project