The Indianapolis Marriott Downtown is undergoing a complete renovation that includes all 622 guest rooms, meeting and common spaces, as well as the lobby and restaurants. The renovation will also add 10 additional guestrooms and 2 new restaurants. The project will be completed in 18 months, and the hotel will remain operational during construction.
The project’s developer, White Lodging, expects the renovation to strengthen the property’s dominant position in the market through a complete modernization. The design of the guestrooms will be called Marriott Modern, which “embraces the ideal of creating contemporary yet warm spaces that are locally influenced. The design was focused on the next generation traveler with an emphasis on lighting and technology as well as reinvented bathrooms,” (PRNewswire, 2016).
In an effort to be more environmentally responsible, the Indianapolis Marriott has been named a Certified Green Hotel by the environmental non-profit Green Seal. It is the first hotel in Indianapolis to receive this certification and one of only five Marriott hotels. According to Marriott Indianapolis Downtown’s website, “The organization’s Green Seal Standard for Hotels and Lodging Properties is one of the most rigorous in the hospitality industry, requiring compliance with waste management, energy efficiency, water conservation, wastewater management and green procurement standards.”
The Marriott brand and the Marriott Indianapolis Downtown have long term goals of further reducing energy and water consumption by 25% by 2017 and are working to create green construction standards for hotel developers. They are implementing many green hotel practices like: water conserving showers and toilets; guestroom keys from recycled materials; motion sensor and timed light switches; tissue and toilet paper made from 20-30% recycled fiber; etc.
Shiel Sexton has enjoyed a long partnership with White Lodging and looks forward to completing this project.
The SCOOP | December 2016 | More from this issue