samagon Posted December 16, 2016 Share Posted December 16, 2016 It looks like every other major convention hotel I've ever stayed at. I suspect that's what they were going for, in which case, they nailed it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene Posted December 16, 2016 Share Posted December 16, 2016 20 hours ago, UtterlyUrban said: 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. #BINGO !!! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-Town Man Posted December 16, 2016 Share Posted December 16, 2016 I am not as up on what a great hotel looks like as some of you. Here are some photos of the new JW Marriott in Austin for comparison. Somewhat similar project: 1,012 rooms, 34 stories, $300 million construction cost (may be an estimate) there vs. 1,000 rooms, 29 stories, $335 million for ours. The décor there seems a bit more influenced by the surrounding region, and I suppose that Central Texas offers a bit more inspiration for the designer than Southeast Texas. Obviously our amenities deck was a much bigger effort, although they did try with the little Texas outline at the bottom of their pool. The vertical portion of theirs is a tad more handsome and the overall proportioning there is better, although the views from ours are better, Austin's artificial lake notwithstanding. http://www.jwmarriottaustin.com/austin-hotel-gallery/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UtterlyUrban Posted December 16, 2016 Share Posted December 16, 2016 (edited) 2 hours ago, H-Town Man said: I am not as up on what a great hotel looks like as some of you. Here are some photos of the new JW Marriott in Austin for comparison. Somewhat similar project: 1,012 rooms, 34 stories, $300 million construction cost (may be an estimate) there vs. 1,000 rooms, 29 stories, $335 million for ours. The décor there seems a bit more influenced by the surrounding region, and I suppose that Central Texas offers a bit more inspiration for the designer than Southeast Texas. Obviously our amenities deck was a much bigger effort, although they did try with the little Texas outline at the bottom of their pool. The vertical portion of theirs is a tad more handsome and the overall proportioning there is better, although the views from ours are better, Austin's artificial lake notwithstanding. http://www.jwmarriottaustin.com/austin-hotel-gallery/ I am hopeful that the snapshots that we have of the Houston property are just that -- "snapshots" -- and don't convey the feel of the place like the pro shots taken in Austin. The Austin property looks lovely and I am hoping that the Houston property will too (in person and also when we see pro shots rather than just snaps). Edited December 16, 2016 by UtterlyUrban 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted December 17, 2016 Share Posted December 17, 2016 Professional shots tend not to include empty ballrooms, which seem to be the very definition of generic in anything built since about 1962. Hotel guest rooms generally don't have a whole lot of room for variety in decor, either, since there is apparently some sort of edict that all guest rooms everywhere must use a color chart running from ecru to beige to brown, with white bathroom tile to match the plumbing fixtures, towels, and sheets. (I get it on the linens - they bleach the piss out of everything. Literally.) The areas they do get to play with (lobby, patio, restaurants) look pretty nicely done - and suited up astronauts in the elevators is anything but routine. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UtterlyUrban Posted December 17, 2016 Share Posted December 17, 2016 1 hour ago, mollusk said: Professional shots tend not to include empty ballrooms, which seem to be the very definition of generic in anything built since about 1962. Hotel guest rooms generally don't have a whole lot of room for variety in decor, either, since there is apparently some sort of edict that all guest rooms everywhere must use a color chart running from ecru to beige to brown, with white bathroom tile to match the plumbing fixtures, towels, and sheets. (I get it on the linens - they bleach the piss out of everything. Literally.) The areas they do get to play with (lobby, patio, restaurants) look pretty nicely done - and suited up astronauts in the elevators is anything but routine. All true. Pro shots (vs snapshots) also pay extremely close attention to lighting, perspective, perspective correction, white balance, and color/tonality. All of those things matter in an image and help define the mood. I look forward to seeing this hotel in person and also seeing the pro images that they post. Both will better convey a sense of the place than snaps. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted December 17, 2016 Share Posted December 17, 2016 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoninATX Posted December 18, 2016 Share Posted December 18, 2016 Very nice Houston! I can't wait for it to open up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 (edited) http://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/12-19-16-sneak-peek-xochi-hugo-ortega-tracy-vaught-marriott-marquis-downtown/?utm_source=sf_twitter#slide=0 ^^^ just a small sample of what uber chef HUGO ORTEGA and his wife TRACY VAUGHT shall be bringing to the new XOCHI at the downtown MARRIOTT MARQUIS. beautiful and ambitious..... Edited December 20, 2016 by monarch 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txtiger Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 (edited) Per the restaurant's Facebook page, Grotto Downtown will open January 3... :https://www.facebook.com/GrottoDowntown/?fref=ts ...aaaand just realized I should've posted this on the Convention Center thread, instead... Don't see how I can delete this one. Oh, well... Edited December 20, 2016 by txtiger 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txtiger Posted December 20, 2016 Share Posted December 20, 2016 (edited) Back on the subject, more correctly: The menus for Biggio's, Walker Street, and High Dive are all up on the hotel's website - see here, and the links are over on the right...: https://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-information/restaurant/houmq-marriott-marquis-houston/ And, eeerrrf.... Biggio's and Walker Street better get rid of that possessive form of 'Nacho' on their menus... Bergh... Edited December 20, 2016 by txtiger 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoninATX Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 (edited) Didn't realize that Mcalisters was going in as well. This Convention area going to have 4 or 5 different restaurants all together. Edited December 21, 2016 by JoninATX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 57 minutes ago, JoninATX said: Didn't realize that Mcalisters was going in as well. This Convention area going to have 4 or 5 different restaurants all together. 4 in the GRB itself. Plus another in the Partnership Tower. Plus 6 more in the Marriott Marquis. 3 in the Hilton Americas. (I'm including cafés and such). 2 in Discovery Green. Brasserie du Parc, Hearsay on the Green, Total in Convention area: approximately 18 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarathonMan Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 12 hours ago, Houston19514 said: 4 in the GRB itself. Plus another in the Partnership Tower. Plus 6 more in the Marriott Marquis. 3 in the Hilton Americas. (I'm including cafés and such). 2 in Discovery Green. Brasserie du Parc, Hearsay on the Green, Total in Convention area: approximately 18 WOW!! It will be interesting to see if this relatively small area can support so many eateries in the near term. It's a big influx all at once. Hopefully more residential towers follow... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angostura Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 12 hours ago, Houston19514 said: 4 in the GRB itself. Plus another in the Partnership Tower. Plus 6 more in the Marriott Marquis. 3 in the Hilton Americas. (I'm including cafés and such). 2 in Discovery Green. Brasserie du Parc, Hearsay on the Green, Total in Convention area: approximately 18 I think 19 if you count MKT/Phoenician (in the same building as Brasserie du Parc). 7 minutes ago, MarathonMan said: WOW!! It will be interesting to see if this relatively small area can support so many eateries in the near term. It's a big influx all at once. Hopefully more residential towers follow... At some point, a high enough concentration of restaurants becomes an attraction in itself. Remember also that the Astros (2 blocks away) and Rockets (1 block away) draw a combined 3M people every year. In terms of drawing people into the area, that's roughly the equivalent of ~5000 residential units. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nole23 Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 3 hours ago, CrockpotandGravel said: This picture of Biggio's reminds me of the Sports Books in Vegas. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UtterlyUrban Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 Any pictures of Xochi? i wonder if it is further behind the others? Will it open on the 26th? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted December 21, 2016 Share Posted December 21, 2016 Xochi is definitely behind the others, rode buy today. I don't think they will be ready by Monday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted December 22, 2016 Share Posted December 22, 2016 I think I read somewhere recently that Xochi was opening in early January. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hindesky Posted December 23, 2016 Share Posted December 23, 2016 Talked with a worker today who said they would be pressed to meet the 2nd week of Jan opening but he said they will be ready for sure by the Super Bowl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post HoustonMidtown Posted December 23, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted December 23, 2016 17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ryrohtx Posted December 26, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted December 26, 2016 Marriott Marquis officially opens at 11 am today. Took a tour of this amazing hotel this morning and it is a game changer for this city. So proud of what they've done here and how every detail was inspired by aspects of Houston. The pool, hot tub, and lazy river, which are all heated, open today, as well. The hotel representative did say Xochi will open January 16, but Biggio's and Walker Street cafe will open today. 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jeff P Posted December 26, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted December 26, 2016 (edited) A buddy just took the first lazy river float: Edited December 26, 2016 by Jeff P 26 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted December 27, 2016 Share Posted December 27, 2016 (edited) http://abc13.com/news/new-hotel-makes-very-texas-grand-opening/1674144/ ^^^ MARRIOTT MARQUIS events of opening day including MAYOR TURNER. what a glorious and gorgeous place..... Edited December 27, 2016 by monarch 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post rechlin Posted December 30, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted December 30, 2016 Looks like the pool deck is finally finished, with all the furniture in place: 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samagon Posted December 31, 2016 Share Posted December 31, 2016 are those see-through bridges? I'm not sure that's a great idea... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cloud713 Posted January 1, 2017 Share Posted January 1, 2017 On 12/26/2016 at 2:02 PM, Jeff P said: A buddy just took the first lazy river float: An 1/8th of the speed it will normally flow? I've been wondering how well the tubes will flow around El Paso, but couldn't tell much from the video since they probably put their feet down to stop for the video through the glass wall. Thanks for sharing the video! Hopefully I can float around Texas at some point.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post placoors Posted January 1, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted January 1, 2017 I ate at Biggio's before the Rockets NYE game last night. The lobby of the hotel looks great and so does the restaurant. The food was good (veggie burger, bacon cheeseburger, chips and queso). Large drink menu with plenty of local craft beers and reasonably priced. The service was about what you would expect from a place that has been open less than a week but I will go back to watch a game at the bar or on one of the giant screens. They also have semi-private seating areas upstairs that over look Discovery Green that you can reserve with a food/drink minimum for your party of 5-10. 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate99 Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 Walked through Biggio's after the Rockets game on Friday. That place is legit (as the kids say these days). Time to schedule some 3 hour lunches during the NCAA tournament. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nate4l1f3 Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 Does anyone have pics of the second floor of Biggios? When I went the upstairs was closed.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post HoustonMidtown Posted January 4, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted January 4, 2017 (edited) Ate dinner at Biggio's -- what a great space....we happened the meet the Executive Chef as we were wandering around - he gave us a tour of the upstairs area....great views from the patio Edited January 4, 2017 by HoustonMidtown 19 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post HoustonMidtown Posted January 4, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted January 4, 2017 A few other hotel pics.... 22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monarch Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 ^^^ @HoustonMidtown your illustrations are this!^^^ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gene Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 wowsa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thanks for posting all those amazing photos!!! going this weekend to Biggios! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twinsanity02 Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 On 1/3/2017 at 7:37 PM, HoustonMidtown said: Ate dinner at Biggio's -- what a great space....we happened the meet the Executive Chef as we were wandering around - he gave us a tour of the upstairs area....great views from the patio Excellent photos. The restaurant looks superb. Maybe I am hoping too much. Like to go there and watch KU winning a bowl game or the Astros winning a World Series. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nole23 Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 Finally made it to this hotel last night. First, I went to Grotto for Happy Hour, which was awesome, then went over to Biggio's for a few hours and walked through the hotel. I also saw Tilman Fertitta hanging out at Biggio's and he was commenting on how Grotto turned out really well (He owns it). This whole area has a completely different vibe and feel to it now which is just amazing compared to what it was a few short years ago. I'm planning on going to Biggio's for the Texan's game Saturday and sitting in one of the upstairs booth areas. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmitch94 Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 1 hour ago, Twinsanity02 said: Maybe I am hoping too much. Like to go there and watch KU winning a bowl Well that right there may be asking too much lol 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUCAJUN Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 We know that the MM is the game changer of Hotels in Houston and after the Super Bowl it will be THE hotel everyone will want to stay and ask about. What do you think will be the response from new and existing hotels to have that wow factor? Does this force new proposals to redesign? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moore713 Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 (edited) 1 hour ago, HOUCAJUN said: We know that the MM is the game changer of Hotels in Houston and after the Super Bowl it will be THE hotel everyone will want to stay and ask about. What do you think will be the response from new and existing hotels to have that wow factor? Does this force new proposals to redesign? Really i felt like jw set the bar and that force MM to up it game...Alessandra really drop the ball it had the potential the most stand out in terms of design and the lobby that started at the midway point offering a over view..but instead opt for a bland design that will blend with GS and I feel in the long run that will hurt it. What I'm really interested in seeing is what move GHP will do with there Hotel component.. Edited January 7, 2017 by Moore713 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nate4l1f3 Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 My dream is for the block right behind MM to be that rumored W hotel... o and with residential too!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elecpharm Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Article about David Mitzner The Survivor Who Built The Marriott Marquis Informative read. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UtterlyUrban Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 1 hour ago, elecpharm said: Article about David Mitzner The Survivor Who Built The Marriott Marquis Informative read. Terrific article. Thanks for sharing! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post jmitch94 Posted January 14, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted January 14, 2017 Looks like there will soon be a huge graphic on the new hotel for the game. Looks like part of Tiffany right now. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post rechlin Posted January 16, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted January 16, 2017 Looks like the large Super Bowl trophy graphic is now in place. I wonder what the little cubes that have been on the pool deck for the last couple weeks are for: 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbates2 Posted January 16, 2017 Share Posted January 16, 2017 18 minutes ago, rechlin said: I wonder what the little cubes that have been on the pool deck for the last couple weeks are for: Cabanas. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houston19514 Posted January 16, 2017 Share Posted January 16, 2017 18 minutes ago, rechlin said: Looks like the large Super Bowl trophy graphic is now in place. I wonder what the little cubes that have been on the pool deck for the last couple weeks are for: The little cubes look like cabanas 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post urbanize713 Posted January 17, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted January 17, 2017 (edited) From Discovery Green Edited January 17, 2017 by urbanize713 16 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanize713 Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 (edited) Duplicate, please delete. Edited January 17, 2017 by urbanize713 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post gene Posted January 23, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted January 23, 2017 (edited) I was in the area Saturday for a photoshoot so afterwards i walked over to the Marriott... i introduced myself to the front desk manager and asked if it was okay to look around and she said of course and that they have many public rooms so feel free to explore...so i did! Biggios wasn't open but the bartenders let me walk around down and upstairs... then i checked out the Texas T coffee area on the ground floor which was like a mini open to the lobby Starbucks but my gosh they had some amazing looking desserts! Then checked out the Walker St Cafe which was the casual but still nice restaurant which was pretty full of people enjoying breakfast... and saw the open to lobby bar which had a nice little ambiance in a nook in the wall setting... its not the lobby's ceiling that makes the lobby look massive but the length that it stretches end to end with the shiny white floor...it really is impressive and with so many windows, its just super bright and beautiful! I walked to the meeting room levels and the rooms were what you would expect from a nice hotel with meeting rooms...nice carpets, fixtures and then outside of the meeting rooms there's lots of seating with the amazing windows and views to enjoy them from...there were quite a few areas that you could get away from it all if you wanted to. Then there is the pool area...first off there was a sign saying that this area was for hotel guests only....however there was a nice man there handing out towels and never asked myself or anyone for a room key so i walked on out to look at the pool and views from this level (6). The pool is an infinity pool and while not huge it was a good size and had about 5 people in it so i am hoping it was heated...however the lazy river had about 5 people floating in it and about 15 or so people just swimming it it...and that was heated...and the cool little bridges over various parts of the lazy river are made of see through glass so many times i would walk over someone as they floated underneath...that was cool ...on the south west end of the pool deck is a large covered area which i can imagine will be for live music and dancing or special events etc with great views of west downtown and discovery green as well...really loved that and hope to see some kind of event there some day! As i headed out i decided to take the elevator instead of the escalators i took to each floor and i got the giant astronaut greeting me on the wall inside as someone pictured on a previous thread...man i loved that! so much fun and such a cool way to remind people that we are space city! all in all i loved the hotel and cannot wait to go again and enjoy a stay, meal, game, event and/or the pool area! everyone was super nice there by the way...its almost like they all were just as excited to work there as i was to be there. SO awesome Edited January 23, 2017 by gene 17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Urbannizer Posted January 25, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted January 25, 2017 https://morrisarchitects.wordpress.com/2017/01/24/morris-huitt-zollars-contribution-to-downtown-houston-super-bowl-li/ 170124_MarriottMarquis_129 by byrne.kyle, on Flickr 29 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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