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LANDMARKREBORN SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
HOTEL
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LANDMARK
REBORN WITH A DRAMATIC MAKEOVER COMPLETE, BATON ROUGE’S MOST ICONIC HOTEL IS REACHING NEW HEIGHTS.
WHEN THE BATON ROUGE Marriott Hotel was purchased in 2015 for $21.8 million, its owners weren’t content with just a surface makeover. During renovations that took more than a year, every inch of the 21-story hotel has been touched. Guests will find more spacious and modern guestrooms, an elegant grand ballroom and up-to-date meeting space. In addition, a popular oyster and wine restaurant will tempt taste buds with its Gulf-totable cuisine. The repairs needed to bring the city’s best known and most visible hotel up to current Marriott standards were extensive and came at a cost of more than $25 million. With 20,000 square feet of meeting space, a 6,050-square-foot ballroom, and 299 guest rooms, this iconic structure located near I-10 and College Drive
TIMELINE FEBRUARY 1973 Baton Rouge announces the coming of the Hilton Baton Rouge to 5500 Hilton Ave.
DECEMBER 29, 1980 Developers run into financial problems and the property is sold to T.D. Bickham for $12 million.
1975
1980
The $12 million Hilton at Corporate Square opens 2 M ARRIOT T 201 7
The property undergoes a partial renovation.
1985 JULY 1981
MARCH 18, 1976
2005
T.D. Bickham opens up T.D.’s Poolside Lounge, a $350,000 addition to the hotel.
2000
2000 Columbia Properties buys the hotel and changes the flag from Hilton to Marriott.
is once again set to take its place as a premier destination for locals and travelers alike. “It’s like The Comeback Kid story,” says Marriott Baton Rouge General Manager Ralph Ney. The property was originally developed as a Hilton in the early 1970s. Its construction was unique, with a frame built of precast concrete, rather than steel, due to cost. At the time, it was the tallest completely precast systems structure in the southern United States. Over the years, the property experienced a change in flagship from Hilton to Marriott, as well as multiple owners. AVR Realty Co. of New York and Dimension Development Co. of Natchitoches now own the hotel. A 1976 article referred to the building as a “21-story salute” to Baton Rouge. Ney believes that is still the best description he’s seen of the property. “Around the office,
we’re calling it an icon,” he adds. In its heyday, in the early 1980s, guests visited the hotel’s poolside lounge, where people could literally swim up to the bar and order drinks without getting out of the pool. “This was one of the places to have your functions—your socials and meetings,” Ney says. “There are a lot of memories here for a lot of people—proms, weddings, honeymoons. We want to bring a rebirth of this property—with new rooms and new skin.” The hotel’s original design called for balconies off of each guestroom. For whatever reason, Ney says, those balconies were not completed, leaving faux balconies to dominate the building’s façade. Those faux balconies were eliminated with the renovations, and new signage was added, giving the building a sleeker and more modern appearance. The change also allowed for the outward expansion of guestrooms by 3.5 feet. Many rooms now
DECEMBER 2015 JULY 2013 CCMS Lodging seizes the hotel from Columbia Properties. It is owed $32 million on a $36 million promissory note. Three months later, CCMS buys back the property for $2,200 in court costs. It then tries to find another buyer.
2005 APRIL 2015 The Marriott Baton Rouge is purchased by AVR Realty Co. of New York and Dimension Development Co. of Natchitoches for $21.8 million.
Renovations begin on the building. The Marriott Baton Rouge remains open while work is completed.
2010
feature floor-to-ceiling storefront windows with magnificent views from Dow Chemical to Exxon, with LSU, the Mississippi River bridge and downtown Baton Rouge in between. With the extra square footage, bedrooms with king beds now have chaise lounges and tables. Rooms that previously contained two double beds have been upgraded to two queen beds. “It’s all about the comfort of the bed and the size of the shower,” says Koby Thompson, senior designer with Peggy Dye & Associates. The interior design firm, based in Birmingham, Alabama, was hired by Marriott to put together the design plan, while an in-house construction team carried out those plans. As part of the renovations, the guest room bathrooms have been completely transformed. Most bathrooms now include walk-in showers with sliding glass doors, although a few bathtubs remain for those who need them. “The guest rooms needed to be made more contemporary, more functional, and brought to current Marriott standards,” Ney says. In both the guestrooms and public spaces, designers pulled inspiration from south Louisiana—the swamps and cypress trees, the Mississippi River bridge, and LSU. “When you walk onto the property, your senses are just going to pop,” Ney says. The new, modern ballroom—featuring wood-paneled doors, bronze accents and geometric lighting—offers 6,050 square feet, which can accommodate up to 900 people for a theater experience or 600 people for a sit-down banquet. In addition, the hotel now boasts more than 20,000 square feet of meeting space.
JULY 2017 Stinky’s Fish Camp, a popular oyster and wine restaurant from Florida, announces it is opening its first Louisiana location inside the Baton Rouge Marriott.
2015
DECEMBER 2016 Old signage at the Marriott Baton Rouge comes down as renovations continue. The building features a new, sleeker façade after guest room faux balconies are converted to storefront windows.
OCTOBER 2017 Renovations completed.
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NEW GUESTROOMS DESIGNED TO APPEAL TO ALL GENERATIONS.
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THE 299 ROOMS of the Marriott Baton Rouge Hotel now have a more inviting and “lounge-y” feel thanks to a design plan that appeals to all generations—from baby boomers to millennials. In guestrooms, the expanded room size—3.5 feet was added to the length of each room when faux balconies were removed—along with dark hardwood flooring, rich millwork details and Greek key hardware add to the rich feel, says Koby Thompson, senior designer with Peggy Dye & Associates, the interior design firm that worked on the project. Gone is the old-fashioned work desk, since today’s guests usually prefer to bring their laptops onto the bed or chaise lounge. There is still a narrow table under the television for charging devices or working if desired. The art hanging over the beds gives a nod to LSU—with a photo of the Mississippi River taken from outer space colored in purple and gold tones. To an unfamiliar eye, the art might remind guests of the veins of a large leaf, Thompson says. “It’s very abstract,” Thompson adds. A large part of the guestroom makeover included technology considerations. Forty-nine-inch smart TVs give guests the option to stream movies or television shows on Netflix or Hulu or view TED talks. Since many guests are now carrying two or three devices per person, there was a need for more electrical outlets. The updated rooms now offer more than a dozen options—both USB and regular electrical outlets—for charging and powering devices. “Now, you can pretty much turn around and plug anything in,” Thompson says. “That’s the millennial way of thinking.”
DINING
FRESH FISH, OYSTERS A SPRINKLE OF LOUISIANA and
THE NEW STINKY’S FISH CAMP INSIDE THE MARRIOTT REPRESENTS A HOMECOMING OF SORTS FOR RESTAURATEUR JIM RICHARD.
RESTAURANT OWNER and chef Jim Richard is ready to fully embrace his south Louisiana heritage when he opens Stinky’s Baton Rouge inside the newly renovated Marriott at Interstate 10 and College Drive. Beachgoers from the Baton Rouge area might already be familiar with Stinky’s through another of Richard’s restaurant offerings—Stinky’s Fish Camp, a popular oyster and wine restaurant in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. “Stinky’s was based on simply prepared fresh fish,” Richard says. “It was centered around taking a piece of fish that was caught that day and putting it on the table that night.” Richard, a Lafayette native, is excited about bringing his food to Louisiana through Stinky’s. This is the second Louisiana restaurant for Richard, who also opened Trenasse in the Intercontinental Hotel in New Orleans in 2014. “It’s completely a dream come true,” he says. Stinky’s Baton Rouge, along with all of the Marriott’s food and beverage services, will be operated by Word of Mouth Restaurant Group, the corporate entity under which all of Richard’s enterprises are nestled. Richard comes from a foodie family. His paternal great-grandfather and brothers moved to Louisiana from Paris, and French mealtime traditions were passed down to future generations at home. His maternal grandfather was a Lafayette restaurateur and caterer, and his maternal grandmother was a master cake artist. “I took the food I grew up eating, and the food I prepare when I have parties at my house, and finally put it together in a restaurant,” Richard says of Stinky’s. Richard received his professional training from the Culinary Institute at Hyde Park, New York. He soon found himself in the position of sous chef at Commander’s Palace in New Orleans. His next move brought him to the Destin/Santa Rosa Beach area, where he opened and managed restaurants for others. In 1998, Richard went into business for himself, starting Blue Mountain Catering Company. He soon purchased his first fine dining restaurant, The Lake Place. After five
Stinky’s Oyster Log Stinky’s Traditional Po’boy
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Welcome TO BATON ROUGE
Stinky’s Seafood Gumbo
"Stinky's Fish Camp" Located in the Newly Completely Renovated Baton Rouge Marriott
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successful years, The Lake Place burned down in an electrical fire, but it was out of that misfortune that Stinky’s was born. “I always said it was kind of the alter ego of our white tablecloth restaurant,” Richard says. “The technique and emphasis on the food and service is the same. It’s just a more casual version.” The next turn of events is what brought Richard back to Louisiana. Sam Friedman, founder and CEO of Dimension Development Co., was driving by Stinky’s one day and saw the number of cars parked in the parking lot. He stopped for lunch and then came back for dinner. Richard says the next day he received a call from Friedman asking if he would open a restaurant in the Intercontinental. Richard said yes. Next came Trebeaché, a popular spot for weddings and special events, located just down the street from the original Stinky’s. Just recently, Richard opened another Stinky’s in Auburn, Alabama. For the Baton Rouge restaurant, Richard worked with Peggy Dye & Associates to come up with a design plan. Like the hotel itself, a lot of the design inspiration for the restaurant came from the Mississippi River bridge. Guests will also find many cypress touches, which Richard favors, along with modern finishes. “It’s probably a little more polished than the other Stinky’s, but it’s made to be comfortable,” Richard says. At Stinky’s, a customer favorite is the oyster log—six each of Rockefeller, smoked cheese & bacon, garlic butter, Bienville, cheddar jalapeno oysters, and fried oysters meuniere served on an impressive piece of cypress. “For me, a glass of champagne and an oyster log makes a great lunch for two people,” Richard says.
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IT’S THE PLACE to MEET!
BATON ROUGE MARRIOTT
CONGRATULATIONS O n t h e C o o l N e w Lo o k
RENOVATION MAKES THE MARRIOTT THE CITY’S PREMIER EVENT VENUE.
THE RENOVATED Marriott Baton Rouge boasts more than 20,000 square feet of meeting space, including 18 different rooms. The spaces are flexible and can easily accommodate corporate lunches or breakout sessions. The new, modern ballroom—featuring wood-paneled doors, bronze accents and geometric lighting—offers 6,050 square feet, which can accommodate up to 900 people for a theater experience or 600 people for a sit-down banquet. This property is now the perfect fit for various special events, from conventions to banquets to weddings. Food and catering for events are available through the hotel’s new dining option, Stinky’s Fish Camp. The culinary and event staff here eagerly await to help you plan and flawlessly execute your next function with unparalleled service!
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Congratulations to the Baton Rouge Marriott on your beautiful facility. DonahueFavret Contractors is proud to have partnered with you on the renovation of your interior public spaces. 800-626-4431 • DonahueFavret.com