A design-led revamp is underway at the 303-room Glasgow Marriott Hotel, promising to transform the hotel into a modern, stylish destination befitting its home city.
The lobby of the hotel, which is situated on Argyle St at the western limit of the city centre, now features a new ‘Greatroom’, encompassing the reception area, a new lounge bar, and the signature Cast Iron Grill restaurant, cumulatively described as ‘the pulse of every Marriott Hotel’, where each guest’s journey begins with a warm welcome.
All guest rooms will be included in the Glasgow upgrade, with an additional six Junior Suites being created, while 75 Executive Rooms will benefit from access to the Marriott Hotel’s Executive Lounge. Enhancement of the ten meeting rooms is also underway, with the entire refurbishment project due to be complete by December 2024.
With its prime location in the city centre’s financial district, on the doorstep of both the Scottish Event Campus and the West End of Glasgow, the hotel is within easy reach of many of the city’s top attractions, famous music venues, shopping, nightlife and dining districts, as well well placed for the motorway to and from the airport.
But it might be fair to say that in recent years the property has been somewhat overshadowed by its nearby peers, as a rash of hotels have sprung up along Charing Cross and the Clydeside.
General manager of Glasgow Marriott Hotel, Chris McGuinness, said: “Glasgow Marriott has been a cornerstone of the city, beloved by commuters, corporate guests, and leisure travellers for many years. Our major investment into upgrading this iconic property marks an exciting new chapter for the Marriott brand in Glasgow.
“We are renowned for exceptional service, Marriott Glasgow’s reputation for outstanding service is a source of immense pride for all of us, the refurbishment means that we can elevate this service to even greater heights.”
Design work on the interiors is said to be ‘inspired by the local surroundings’, with bespoke fabric and carpet designs in a contemporary colour scheme characterising the ensuites, which have armchairs, air-conditioning and 55-inch wall mounted flat screen TVs as standard.
Glasgow’s iconic bridges form the basis for lobby interiors, with ‘curves and linear forms used to bridge the space within the public entrance areas’. The connecting bar area has tile textures reflecting the waters of the River Clyde, while ‘pops of burnt orange, deep blue paired with light timber tones feature in public areas with a palette of blues, greens and muted tan accents reflected elsewhere’.
The new reception desk features a ceramic plate mural inspired by the city’s ceramic industry, made up of individually decorated plates, paying homage to the city’s key landmarks. Meanwhile the Executive Lounge is said to be inspired by the Nouveau Era and Glasgow’s engineering history, with geometric shapes and Glasgow Maps abstracted in the tile layout.
“Glasgow is celebrated for its art and design, vibrant music scene and designer shopping, it’s where the old and the new meet, bridging the past with the future; the new look Marriott encompasses all of this in its design blending the city’s rich history character and vibrancy, its manufacturing heritage, iconic bridges, and famous street murals,” read the refurb announcement.
