San Jose Marriott, interconnected with San Jose McEnery Convention Center, unveiled a top-to-bottom renovation of its 21,000 square-foot meeting space.
“We’re extremely proud of our new product. Bathed in natural light, the space is fresh and modern, providing an inviting setting for groups of up to 900 people. We now offer the fastest hotel Wi-Fi in Silicon Valley and cutting-edge mobile applications to simplify and improve the meeting experience,” stated Laurie Munos, director of sales and marketing, San Jose Marriott.
The hotel features 22 distinctive meeting rooms, including the 9,750-square-foot San Jose Ballroom, and ample pre-function space conducive to communal gatherings. Axis Architecture & Construction served as the architect, and Looney & Associates was the design firm for the project.
Key elements of the renovation project include:
- The creation of a light-infused contemporary setting with new wall coverings, carpeting and furniture in rich shades of muted bronze, blue, silver and gold against an ivory background.
- Orbit-shaped chandeliers and pendant lighting enhance the stylish pre-function space.
- A collection of eight contemporary artworks depicting the story of Silicon Valley. Created by local artist Jeremy Sutton, the Silicon Valley Series features works such as “Bits & Bytes,” “Humans & Machines” and “Founders & Visionaries.” The large-scale pieces are composed of Océ VariaDot UV Inkjet Prints on Aluminum Plate.
- Internet speed increased to 150 Mbps in meeting rooms and up to 25 Mbps in guest rooms.
- State-of-the-art AV and lighting capabilities.
- Introduction of Red Coat Direct – a meeting services app to improve the group experience, ensuring real-time responses to meeting planner needs.
INTERNET SPEED & ENTERTAINMENT IN GUEST ROOMS
Guests cite fast and reliable Internet service as one of the most important features they seek in a hotel. In June, the San Jose Marriott installed individual wireless routers in the hotel’s 506 guest rooms and suites. The $500,000 project increased guest room Internet speed to 25 Mbps for premium service or 2.5 Mbps for standard service. The routers are capable of servicing up to six wireless devices.
OVER-THE-TOP APPS
The upgraded Internet system powers a robust in-room entertainment system packed with popular programming and apps, including Netflix, Hulu and YouTube. Guests can operate the system directly from their smartphones. Marriott Hotels has launched its proof of concept Over-the-Top Apps program exclusively at the San Jose Marriott.
RED COAT DIRECT
The San Jose Marriott offers Red Coat Direct, a Marriott Hotels-pioneered innovative app, which enables planners to make real-time requests and receive prompt responses to all their meeting needs – including coffees refills, room temperature and lighting control, AV and other services. The meeting services app is sent to planners three days before the start of an event and is customized based upon the group’s function space and agenda. Red Coat Direct is available for use on all Web-enabled devices.
TECH ADVISORY BOARD
Earlier this year, the San Jose Marriott established a Tech Advisory Board, comprised of travel procurement executives and meeting planners from Silicon Valley’s most recognized tech companies.
“By inviting top travel influencers to tell us about their priorities when selecting a hotel, we took the guess work out of exceeding the expectations of group and individual business travelers. This direct line of communication enables us to incorporate their suggestions into every aspect of hotel operations and design,” explained Munos.
THE REVITALIZATION OF DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE
Upgrades to the San Jose Marriott are the latest development in the overall revitalization of downtown San Jose. In 2013, the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, located adjacent to the San Jose Marriott, completed a $130 million expansion, and City National Civic auditorium put the finishing touches on its own $15 million enhancement.
MEET & PLAY IN SAN JOSE
This year, Forbes named San Jose one of the America’s coolest cities. San Jose offers a wide variety of cultural and entertainment offerings ranging from football to fine art. The San Francisco 49ers play at the new Levi’s Stadium, which will host the 50th anniversary of the Super Bowl in 2016. The city boasts its own opera, symphony and ballet companies and a plethora of museums ranging from the San Jose Museum of Modern Art to the Tech Museum of Innovation.
SAN JOSE MARRIOTT
San Jose Marriott is connected to the 555,000-square-foot San Jose McEnery Convention Center and steps away from the city’s many cultural and entertainment attractions including the SAP Center – home to blockbuster concerts and the San Jose Sharks.
The 26-story hotel offers 506 guest rooms and suites, 21,000-square-feet of newly renovated meeting space, a fitness center and rooftop pool, and a Concierge Lounge with stunning views of the Silicon Valley. Epicureans will appreciate celebrity chef Michael Mina’s acclaimed Arcadia steakhouse and Tanq Bar with its sleek underwater ambiance, handcrafted specialty cocktails, regional wines and bar bites.
