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Historic Downtown St. Louis hotel to reopen as a Courtyard by Marriott

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From Illinois Business Journal news services

ST. LOUIS – After being shuttered since 2011, the original Hotel Lennox – once known as St. Louis’ tallest hotel – will reopen Sept. 2, the same day that the hotel originally opened in 1929, as The Courtyard by Marriott St. Louis Downtown/Convention Center Hotel.

The newly revitalized hotel will be one of its most unique and historically significant Courtyard-branded hotels in the country, the owners say.

The hotel has undergone a significant renovation, with an investment of more than $22 million into the property during a 16-month restoration, and will operate as a Courtyard franchise, owned and managed by affiliates of Maritz Wolff & Co. (dba Lennox Suites, LLC) whose principals are natives of St. Louis and previously owned The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis.

The property, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, is located at 823-827 Washington Ave. and was originally designed by Preston Bradshaw, a significant St. Louis architect in the 1920s. The hotel was built in the Renaissance Revival style, with terracotta faces and cornices, during the commercial boom of the 1920s, which have been painstakingly preserved by the new owners.

The most notable interior features of the original building, which have been fully restored, are the interior green marble wainscoting, wood paneling and ornamental brass elevator doors in the lobby.

Hotel features include:

o 165 suites converted to extra-large newly furnished guest rooms averaging 450 square feet

o Wet bars, security safes, and oversized refrigerators in every room

o 55-inch HD smart TVs in the majority of the guest rooms

o All new furniture and fixtures designed by St. Louis’ Lawrence Group Architects

o Commissioned artwork from local artists including Ted Collier and Alicia LaChance to showcase the hotel’s heritage

o State-of-the-art business center, 24/7 Market, Bistro with grab ‘n go snacks and sit down meals, and Starbucks coffee

o 1,100 square feet of meeting space to accommodate functions of up to 100 people

The hotel is the only one physically connected to the Convention Center. The Courtyard anticipates hiring up to 48 staff members at a job fair on Aug. 5. Additional information on the job fair will be available next week.

The development and management team from Maritz Wolff is led by Patrick Lowery and Jeffrey Barone, who both have hands-on Ritz-Carlton experience locally in the beginning of their careers (serving in various Sales and Marketing and Finance roles, respectively) as well as more than 30 years combined experience in hotel and resort asset management and ownership. General Manager Aaron Duncan has spent a decade in the St. Louis market including a tenure at the Hilton at the Ballpark.

Lowery said, “We are thrilled to be a part of revitalizing downtown St. Louis and strengthening its position in both the business and tourism arenas.”

The property is said to be ideal for both business and leisure travelers given its location, price point and offerings. For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/CourtyardSTLCC?fref=ts or visit the http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/stldw-courtyard-st-louis-downtown-convention-center/.

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