Sheraton Hotels & Resorts properties in Denver, Phoenix, Dubai, Tel Aviv, Guangzhou and Mianyang, China, are the first to complete the brand's new look and design, Sheraton parent Marriott International announced. The company initially unveiled plans for the design refresh in 2018.
A key component of the refresh is the redesigned lobby, for which the design team used the "public square" as inspiration. New elements include a community table with built-in lighting, outlets and wireless charging stations. The Coffee Bar Bar will serve as a coffee bar, a cocktail bar and a market, with locally sourced food and beverage options.
Soundproof booths, available on a first-come-first-served basis, are placed throughout the lobby for guests who need privacy but don't necessarily want to return to their rooms. Studios are flexible meeting spaces also located in the lobby that are either built on raised platforms or are enclosed with glass. Whether studios are complimentary and available on a first-come-first-served basis or sold as meeting space will vary by hotel, according to a Marriott spokesperson. Some hotels will offer both, meaning if no one has booked the space, it will be available for impromptu use.
In most of the redesigned hotels, the Club Lounge has been or will be relocated to the lobby level and will be available 24/7 to Marriott Bonvoy elite members and Sheraton club-level guests. Sheraton has updated its food and beverage offerings for the lounge and enhanced its connectivity. The company solicited feedback from a panel of consumers who took part in a virtual reality experience at a test lab at Marriott International headquarters, where they could see what new Club Lounges would be like and provide feedback, according to the spokesperson. That feedback was used to finalize the design for the space.
The new guest rooms were designed to be brighter, with a "residential appeal, comprised of soft finishes and light wood tones accentuated with black metal accents." They will include a height-adjustable desk with integrated power and charging outlets. The bathrooms will have walk-in showers and amenities by Gilchrist & Soames.
Of Sheraton's current 446 properties, 42 so far have completed or are expected to complete renovations by 2022. About two-thirds are located in North America, including Sheratons in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Nashville, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Diego, Montreal and Toronto.