Depot Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel and My Hotel Rocks, LLC, Announce Strategic Partnership
Now Offering Hotel Guests Access to High-quality Acoustic Guitars
Minneapolis, Minnesota - January 13, 2014 - The landmark Depot Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel and My Hotel Rocks, LLC, have announced a strategic partnership to offer hotel guests use of high-quality acoustic guitars for rent on-site or as part of their room package. The partnership allows The Depot Renaissance to build on the Renaissance Hotels' brand strategy, which highlights music and entertainment as part of their RLife Live events. The program officially launches this month and the cost to rent a guitar is just $25 for guests of The Depot and its Stone Arch Bar & Lounge.
The idea originated with My Hotel Rocks founder Dave Musolf, a self-described road warrior/guitar hack who often found himself sitting in his hotel rooms wishing he had his guitar to noodle on. "I asked everywhere I went, and no hotel ever had a guitar," said Mr. Musolf. "I knew there were a few hipster boutique hotels that had them, but as a business traveler working a loyalty program, these weren't really an option. Minneapolis has such an amazing music scene and The Depot supported this idea right away. It's a perfect fit!"
"We are so excited to partner with My Hotel Rocks for this amazing, musical launch as we know that our guests are driven to discover something new and exciting every day," noted Robert Payne, director of sales and marketing for The Depot Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel. "This is truly a unique hotel amenity and Minneapolis is the quintessential music town to launch it."
My Hotel Rocks is currently using Ovation guitars in the $550-$650 (Celebrity) range as part of this program. Each guitar has built-in tuners, and can be plugged into a mobile device/headphones supporting the wide range of guitar and music apps available online. Ovation Celebrity guitars are plastic-backed and extremely durable.
"Hotels are actually the perfect spot for guitar players of any skill to practice and learn," stated Musolf. "YouTube is chock full of channels and uploads of just about every popular song ever written. I wanted to offer a guitar that appeals to players of all levels while keeping it affordable for the hotels to maintain enough inventory. Ovation guitars offer that unique mix of quality and durability in an acoustic guitar." Other guitar brands are also available. Robert Payne continued with, "We look forward to our guests bringing their My Hotel Rocks guitar into our hotel's Stone Arch Bar for an unplugged session."
A common concern is about potential noise issues within the hotel. Through a variety of tests, however, the mid/shallow body acoustic guitar ranks below noise levels of parties, TVs, music/radios, and even conversation and phone use as a potential noise issue. "Most guitarists I know are super respectful and I don't envision hardly any issues with noise," concluded Musolf. "In fact, The Depot Renaissance has a number of guests who travel with their own guitar, and they've never had a noise complaint related to this."
The Depot Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, situated in an historic area of Minneapolis near the storied Mississippi River, is owned and operated by CSM Lodging, a division of CSM Corporation. A decade ago, CSM Corporation saved and restored the historic 19th Century train depot building, converting it into a first-rate, full service hotel with exceptional event and public space within The Depot Pavilion - the train station's original train shed. The highly successful restoration launched a historic movement in this region of Minneapolis. The Depot Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel is the flagship property within CSM Lodging's nationwide collection of hotels.
About My Hotel Rocks, LLC.
Founded in 2013 by David Musolf, the company mission is to allow guitar players of all skill levels to seek out and find hotels that can offer them a guitar while they are on the road. By providing a turnkey service for hotels that helps drive room nights, on-site sales plus super-charge the hotel's cool factor, the company hopes to add hotels in every major market so that guitar players have the ability to enjoy themselves and enhance their ability where ever they go. www.myhotelrocks.com
About The Depot Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel
Designed to enhance the enjoyment of traveling, the full-service The Depot Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel treats you to the history and unique architecture of a 19th century train depot. All the Renaissance guest rooms are detailed with comfortable and stylish furniture and luxurious bedding reflecting a modern take on historic charm.
Steeped in timeless charm, The Depot Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel is the perfect locale for your next getaway, business trip, or social function. We look forward to your next visit with us! For more information and for reservations, visit www.thedepotminneapolis.com To become a fan on Facebook, visit www.facebook.com/thedepotminneapolis, or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/depotmpls
About CSM Lodging
CSM Lodging, a division of CSM Corporation, acquires, develops and manages quality hospitality real estate investments within select markets across the United States. The company is known for their business ethos of treating their customers and associates with integrity and respect, and for their commitment to the future of the communities in which they live and work.
In 1994, CSM purchased its first hotel in St. Paul, Minnesota. By the end of 2002, CSM had opened 29 hotels and developed a presence in Minneapolis, Portland, Denver, Boston, Detroit, Seattle and Naples. Today, CSM Lodging manages 38 hotels nationwide and continues to achieve awards in design, openings, quality, sales excellence, marketing and revenue management.
CSM Lodging is part of the CSM Corporation family of companies, founded in 1976, which has engaged in the acquisition, development, leasing, management and ownership of quality real estate assets. The extensive portfolio includes retail, office & industrial, multi-family residential, and hotel properties across the United States.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
