Marriott Marquis: GRB Convention Center Hotel At 1777 Walker St.

[wilcal]

32 minutes ago, cloud713 said:

I love my Rokinon 12mm. I use it a lot for landscapes and astrophotography out at the beach.

So I notice they still haven't glassed over the southwestern corner on the top two floors. Ive been trying to figure out for a while now if those will be balconies, but haven't gotten a response. Balconies weren't shown in the original renderings, but if that is now the plan, does anyone know what rooms the balconies would connect to? Penthouses? The top floor looks like it has a taller ceiling, maybe a public space of some sort? Should be some great views from there..

 

Definitely looks like two penthouses to me.

 

Looking at the Marquis website, there is a room type called "Executive Corner Terrace" has a Discovery Green view and a pool view. Sounds like that might be it. 

 

[jmitch94]

If you look at the renders here http://www.ridadev.com/page_hotel_marriott_marquis_houston.cfm

 

you can faintly see the balconies. 

[htownboy]

If Houston were Austin, we'd kick a 150ft architectural spire on this thing and call it a day.

 

Looking at you, Fairmont Austin  

[hindesky]

BI G  S

 

[monarch]

^^^ fabulous hotel marriott marquis progress thus far.  anyone know what's happening at the le meridien?  any updates?

[cloud713]

That picture makes the BIGGIOS sign look like it's on the northwest corner/facing west, above the pool deck? I was thinking the bar/restaurant would be more towards the southeast corner, by the GRB.

[bobruss]

Isn't the building on the right side of the image the Houston First building, so that would make it  the southeast east corner of the Marquis across from the GRB.

[hindesky]

26 minutes ago, cloud713 said:

That picture makes the BIGGIOS sign look like it's on the northwest corner/facing west, above the pool deck? I was thinking the bar/restaurant would be more towards the southeast corner, by the GRB.

It's on the southeast corner.

[quietstorm]

4 hours ago, monarch said:

^^^ fabulous hotel marriott marquis progress thus far.  anyone know what's happening at the le meridien?  any updates?

Slow going, but there is activity....

 

 

[Urbannizer]

0218 by Christophe Le, on Flickr

 

0240 by Christophe Le, on Flickr

[jmitch94]

I wonder if Marriott will throw large pool parties like you see in Vegas. 

[HoustonMidtown]

Walker St is now open....

[HoustonMidtown]

Looks like exterior construction is mostly done - all construction equipment is gone and roads are open

 

Sorry for the bad picture, was trying to get a pic of the ground level interior of Biggio's - hard to see, but the bars are adorned with baseball bats

Edited November 24, 2016 by HoustonMidtown

[monarch]

^^^ @HoustonMidtown no apology needed my pal.  GORGEOUS ILLUSTRATIONS on a beautiful day.  thank you and happy TG!

[BigFootsSocks]

3 hours ago, monarch said:

^^^ @HoustonMidtown no apology needed my pal.  GORGEOUS ILLUSTRATIONS on a beautiful day.  thank you and happy TG!

I love the irony here; Monarch, the man who with the widest vernacular of any user, who writes a thesis that essentially says "great pic," just abbreviated Thanksgiving. Never change my friend.

[monarch]

1 hour ago, BigFootsSocks said:

I love the irony here; Monarch, the man who with the widest vernacular of any user, who writes a thesis that essentially says "great pic," just abbreviated Thanksgiving. Never change my friend.

 

^^^ it's all good my pal....

[hindesky]

[monarch]

^^^ wow!  well done hindesky.....

[Urbannizer]

 

[Montrose1100]

Holy Hastag Batman!

[hindesky]

[UtterlyUrban]

5 hours ago, hindesky said:

When I see images like this I am reminded how much "more" could be built on the same block.  Imagine another tower segment so that the tower width runs the full length of the pool deck!  With that,  No need for yet another hotel on top of the new Houston First garage......  would the economics of a hotel that big in this market work?  Who knows?  

 

huge footprint used but not that much used for "rooms"....

 

still glad to see it built though.

[Tumbleweed_Tx]

rooms don't pay the bills, event spaces are the hotel's bread and butter

 

[UtterlyUrban]

5 minutes ago, Tumbleweed_Tx said:

rooms don't pay the bills, event spaces are the hotel's bread and butter

 

Probably true, I don't know.

 

however, another tower along the length would not impact much if any event space and, frankly, would allow even more overnight customers to use the event and dining spaces, right?

 

smarter people than me know how to "size" a hotel though.....

[Houston19514]

It's pretty typical for large convention hotels.

[Urbannizer]

Huge projector screen inside Biggio's. The place is covered with TVs.

 

 

Lighting @monarch was referring to.

 

 

[cloud713]

 

 

[txtiger]

Found this good Interior Finishes-related gallery off of the Rod Ryan Show website, when I did a general 'Photos' search of Marriott Marquis Houston in Facebook:

http://thebuzz.iheart.com/photos/the-rod-ryan-show/new-marriott-being-built-down-town-462762/
 

Clearly, the elevators are/will be a highlight...

(Don't listen to the show, so was surprised a radio crew did a comprehensive tour of a project under construction.  Looks like they also went to the new Arts Center in Sugarland, as well...)

Edited December 1, 2016 by txtiger

[monarch]

^^^ @txtiger props to you good pal for sharing those wonderful illustrations via 94.5 THE BOX.  the overwhelming WOW FACTOR within this gorgeous hospitality edifice alone will make this national treasure.  please post more.....

[gene]

wow indeed and WOW again in regards to the astronaut elevator with the pink backpack sitting in it...FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! love this hotel!

[HOUCAJUN]

What was the plan for the back of the hotel? It's really plain.

[monarch]

2 hours ago, HOUCAJUN said:

What was the plan for the back of the hotel? It's really plain.

^^^ well, since it is indeed the "back" of the hotel per se, "plain" is probably the plan.  just sayin.....

[UtterlyUrban]

Online booking will let you book a room for December 26th forward.

 

Seem like it will be open in 11 days.

 

Edited December 15, 2016 by UtterlyUrban

[monarch]

27 minutes ago, UtterlyUrban said:

Online booking will let you book a room for December 26th forward.

 

Seem like it will be open in 11 days.

 

 

^^^ no way my good pal!  although this grand and magnificent hotel shall indeed open upon 26 dec 2016 as has been previously indicated, it shall be completely in the hands of the NFL for SUPERBOWL LI.  as a matter of fact, officials of HOUSTON FIRST do not anticipate this particular hotel to become open for booking to the general public until on or around april of 2017 respectively.  therefore, in other words, the sparkling new downtown MARRIOTT MARQUIS is henceforth booked solid....... 

[UtterlyUrban]

56 minutes ago, monarch said:

^^^ no way my good pal!  although this grand and magnificent hotel shall indeed open upon 26 dec 2016 as has been previously indicated, it shall be completely in the hands of the NFL for SUPERBOWL LI.  as a matter of fact, officials of HOUSTON FIRST do not anticipate this particular hotel to become open for booking to the general public until on or around april of 2017 respectively.  therefore, in other words, the sparkling new downtown MARRIOTT MARQUIS is henceforth booked solid....... 

What?

 

if you log on to their website, it appears that it will allow you to book Dec 26th right now.  

[ryrohtx]

2 hours ago, monarch said:

^^^ no way my good pal!  although this grand and magnificent hotel shall indeed open upon 26 dec 2016 as has been previously indicated, it shall be completely in the hands of the NFL for SUPERBOWL LI.  as a matter of fact, officials of HOUSTON FIRST do not anticipate this particular hotel to become open for booking to the general public until on or around april of 2017 respectively.  therefore, in other words, the sparkling new downtown MARRIOTT MARQUIS is henceforth booked solid....... 

 

I booked two rooms for Dec 31. 

[monarch]

6 hours ago, UtterlyUrban said:

What?

 

if you log on to their website, it appears that it will allow you to book Dec 26th right now.  

 

 

4 hours ago, ryrohtx said:

 

I booked two rooms for Dec 31. 

 

^^^ @UtterlyUrban @ryrohtx yes, i am perfectly aware of just what their website is indicating as i check it out for the updated illustrations continuously.  however, i am only going by what officials of HOUSTON FIRST have been espousing to the public during their media presentations regarding the hotel and it's opening schedules.  not to mention, i also recall seeing a video walk thru with an on-site construction manager / supervisor indicating the very same thing regarding the opening of this facility.  at that time this gentleman was also stating that this hotel would not be opened to the general public until after SUPERBOWL LI.  he also indicated that once the SUPERBOWL was hereby completed, that the hotel was booked solid for a couple of large and long anticipated conventions that were new to the city.  trust me my pals, i do not make stuff up.  i am just espousing exactly what i saw and heard myself.  

 

nonetheless, maybe MARRIOTT officials have now decided to allot a certain amount of rooms to be made to the general public in the very beginning... for just a certain amount of time per se.  i mean think about it, they may now want to try and fine tune all hotel experiences before the thousands of out of town SB guest start to arrive in houston.  (perfectly logical to me)

 

you simply have got to bear in mind, that this MARRIOTT MARQUIS along with the HILTON AMERICAS are hereby expected to become the ground zero hospitality facilities in lieu of the forthcoming SUPERBOWL.  therefore, if you were able to book a room or two upon or around the grand opening slated for 26 DEC 2016, you may want to expect the unexpected.  these two hotels are going to become very busy decorating and preparing / constructing for the SUPERBOWL LI and security for the NFL shall be paramount to all involved.  not trying to scare you away, i'm just stating the facts here as you will see for yourselves....

 

additionally, should you be able to comfortably book a room as @ryrohtx has indicated, then by all means go forward and PLEASE have a great time.  this new MARRIOTT MARQUIS is truly opulent, magnificent, state of the art, and should be very hospitable to guest.  i am a true advocate for contemporary and state of the art architecture, and this place is an absolute gleaming jewel, and a dream come true for houston...... 

[samagon]

2 hours ago, monarch said:

 

however, i am only going by what officials of HOUSTON FIRST have been espousing to the public during their media presentations regarding the hotel and it's opening schedules.  not to mention, i also recall seeing a video walk thru with an on-site construction manager / supervisor indicating the very same thing regarding the opening of this facility.  

 

Neither Houston first nor the construction manager are in charge of reservations.

 

Trust the website that is allowing people to make reservations.

 

It would be a pretty bad opening if they let people make reservations online but then when they show up to check in the front desk personnel said "Ooooh, I'm sorry that reservation system is bogus, Houston First told everyone that the NFL booked the whole hotel through April, trust them, not our registration system."

 

That seems a pretty long stretch. Why would the NFL book the entire hotel from Christmas to NYE anyway? And further until April? nearly 2 months after the SB is over??

 

I mean, Houston first may have said that (hell, they probably did), but when you stop to think about it, it's actually quite silly. 

Edited December 15, 2016 by samagon

[monarch]

57 minutes ago, samagon said:

 

Neither Houston first nor the construction manager are in charge of reservations.

 

Trust the website that is allowing people to make reservations.

 

It would be a pretty bad opening if they let people make reservations online but then when they show up to check in the front desk personnel said "Ooooh, I'm sorry that reservation system is bogus, Houston First told everyone that the NFL booked the whole hotel through April, trust them, not our registration system."

 

That seems a pretty long stretch. Why would the NFL book the entire hotel from Christmas to NYE anyway? And further until April? nearly 2 months after the SB is over??

 

I mean, Houston first may have said that (hell, they probably did), but when you stop to think about it, it's actually quite silly. 

 

^^^ please allow me a bit of clarification.  it was stated that "the hotel shall be booked solid and not opened to the general public until after SUPERBOWL LI.  however, as soon as the SB is over, the hotel was then booked solid as per a previously planned convention that HOUSTON FIRST had been for years trying to get to come to houston.  so no, the NFL did not book the hotel from the SB until april 2017.  i shall try and locate the source of the information that i am speaking of so that HAIF may further reference......

[gene]

hi i manage a travel office as one of my THREE jobs (oy haha) and yep...Marriott Marquis up and running for bookings!

*HOC* MC C3861  MARRIOTT MARQUIS HO    26DEC-27DEC 01NT 1 ADULTS
PLACE BED TYPE AND NS REQS IN /SI                               
REF      RATE      CUR                          COM CAT GT RF CR
  1     199.00   USD                                   G      
    AT    232.83 REGULAR RATE, GUEST ROOM, 1 KING OR 2 QUEEN    
  2     209.00   USD                                   G      
    AT    244.53 REGULAR RATE, MINUTE MAID PARK VIEW, GUEST     
                 ROOM, 1 KING OR 2 QUEEN, CITY VIEW             
  3     219.00   USD                                   G      
    AT    256.23 REGULAR RATE, LAZY RIVER VIEW, GUEST ROOM, 1   
                 KING OR 2 QUEEN, POOL VIEW      
  4     229.00   USD                                   G      
    AT    267.93 REGULAR RATE, LAZY RIVER/PARK VIEW, GUEST ROOM,
                  1 KING OR 2 QUEEN, POOL VIEW                  
  5     219.00   USD                                   G      
    AT    256.23 STAY FOR BREAKFAST RATE, INCLUDES SEE RATE     
                 RULES, GUEST ROOM, 1 KING OR 2 QUEEN           
  6     169.00   USD                                   G      
    AT    197.73 AAA RATE, AAA MEMBERSHIP CARD REQUIRED, GUEST  
                 ROOM, 1 KING OR 2 QUEEN                        

 

sorry that is all in code...but yep just did a test booking and i'm getting a lazy river/park view            

Edited December 15, 2016 by gene

[monarch]

http://www.khou.com/features/texas-shaped-lazy-river-pool-near-completion/341857672

 

^^^ @gene @samagon @ryrohtx @UtterlyUrban ok gents, here is just one of the sources of where i retrieved my hotel opening information from.  please pay close attention to the very end of this segment of when the KHOU reporter is indicating that "the MARRIOTT shall be opening on or around 26 DEC 2017, however, probably not to the general publc until after april 2017".  i shall also try and locate the HOUSTON FIRST version as well.....

[brijonmang]

35 minutes ago, gene said:

hi i manage a travel office as one of my THREE jobs (oy haha) and yep...Marriott Marquis up and running for bookings!

*HOC* MC C3861  MARRIOTT MARQUIS HO    26DEC-27DEC 01NT 1 ADULTS
PLACE BED TYPE AND NS REQS IN /SI                               
REF      RATE      CUR                          COM CAT GT RF CR
  1     199.00   USD                                   G      
    AT    232.83 REGULAR RATE, GUEST ROOM, 1 KING OR 2 QUEEN    
  2     209.00   USD                                   G      
    AT    244.53 REGULAR RATE, MINUTE MAID PARK VIEW, GUEST     
                 ROOM, 1 KING OR 2 QUEEN, CITY VIEW             
  3     219.00   USD                                   G      
    AT    256.23 REGULAR RATE, LAZY RIVER VIEW, GUEST ROOM, 1   
                 KING OR 2 QUEEN, POOL VIEW      
  4     229.00   USD                                   G      
    AT    267.93 REGULAR RATE, LAZY RIVER/PARK VIEW, GUEST ROOM,
                  1 KING OR 2 QUEEN, POOL VIEW                  
  5     219.00   USD                                   G      
    AT    256.23 STAY FOR BREAKFAST RATE, INCLUDES SEE RATE     
                 RULES, GUEST ROOM, 1 KING OR 2 QUEEN           
  6     169.00   USD                                   G      
    AT    197.73 AAA RATE, AAA MEMBERSHIP CARD REQUIRED, GUEST  
                 ROOM, 1 KING OR 2 QUEEN                        

 

sorry that is all in code...but yep just did a test booking and i'm getting a lazy river/park view            

I'll split the fee for the lazy river view!

[gene]

i may get invited to some sort of sneak preview or get a comp stay...if i do you are the first to know Bryan! Brijonmang 

[UtterlyUrban]

1 hour ago, monarch said:

http://www.khou.com/features/texas-shaped-lazy-river-pool-near-completion/341857672

 

^^^ @gene @samagon @ryrohtx @UtterlyUrban ok gents, here is just one of the sources of where i retrieved my hotel opening information from.  please pay close attention to the very end of this segment of when the KHOU reporter is indicating that "the MARRIOTT shall be opening on or around 26 DEC 2017, however, probably not to the general publc until after april 2017".  i shall also try and locate the HOUSTON FIRST version as well.....

The entire piece was about the pool.  When he says (quite poorly) at the end "...until April that the general public gets to use it".  I think he was referring to the pool.

[Avossos]

is the lazy river heated? game changer.

[Urbannizer]

Photo tour by the HBJ: http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2016/12/15/photos-take-a-first-look-inside-houstons-new.html

[HoustonMidtown]

Similar article on CultureMap:

http://houston.culturemap.com/news/city-life/12-15-16-marriott-marquis-downtown-houston-hotel-preview/?utm_source=sf_twitter#slide=10

 

[monarch]

http://houston.culturemap.com/news/city-life/12-15-16-marriott-marquis-downtown-houston-hotel-preview/?utm_source=sf_twitter#slide=2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

^^^ just a small sample of what this gorgeous MARRIOTT MARQUIS has to offer to its guest.  the WOW factor is off the chain.....

Edited December 16, 2016 by monarch

[UtterlyUrban]

I'm hopeful that the hotel will feel better in person because, frankly, to me personally and based on those images, it looks like a mix of bland and gaudy wrapped into one tightly woven package of ho-hum.  I hope that when I stop by in person that I prove myself wrong.

 

 

[H-Town Man]

16 hours ago, monarch said:

http://houston.culturemap.com/news/city-life/12-15-16-marriott-marquis-downtown-houston-hotel-preview/?utm_source=sf_twitter#slide=2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

^^^ just a small sample of what this gorgeous MARRIOTT MARQUIS has to offer to its guest.  the WOW factor is off the chain.....

 

Thanks for the photos mon-ey man, HBJ was blocking me because I reached their article limit.

 

I feel like the Melrose renovation puts the cherry on top as far as views are concerned. That building was an eyesore before, and one little eyesore like that detracts from everything. Things have been moving the right way for us.