Stepstone Hospitality Awarded Renovation Excellence Award From Marriott International
Renovations to the Newly Branded Minneapolis Marriott Northwest Honored for "Dynamic, Thoughtful and Polished Transformation"
PROVIDENCE, RI - January 23, 2014 - StepStone Hospitality received the prestigious Renovation Excellence Award from Marriott International for its outstanding renovation of the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest. The award was announced during the Marriott International annual MINA & Full Service Owners Conference, which honors Marriott's top owner and franchise companies. Rhode Island-based StepStone is a hospitality management company specializing in hotel and restaurant operations.
During the recognition, the hotel's $24 million, year-long renovation was described as a "dynamic, thoughtful and polished transformation."
"At the centerpiece of the hotel is a newly designed Great Room that goes beyond the requirements. The space has been well received by guests, with its stylish surroundings and cool ambiance," lauded Roy Nassau, vice president franchise operations, Marriott International.
StepStone Hospitality, which manages the hotel, led the extensive renovation which took place prior to converting the hotel to the Marriott brand in July 2012.
"We are extremely proud of the accomplishments that resulted in this prestigious recognition," said Thomas Russo, chief executive officer, StepStone Hospitality. "When we purchased this hotel we knew it was a diamond in the rough. Now it is a truly a crowning jewel in our portfolio and a testament to our extremely talented team."
In addition to receiving Marriott's prestigious Renovation Excellence Award, the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest is also celebrating its prominence at the top of its prestigious brand as a leader in quality excellence. Marriott guests ranked the hotel as the top Marriott in North America, according to Marriott Hotels & Resorts guest satisfaction surveys from stays at the brand's 333 North American locations.
"With our service-oriented team, we knew it was just a matter of time," explained Bob Schrader, general manager. "Our guests are very loyal and we're delighted with their appreciation for the accommodations and services provided by our hotel and staff."
The all-suite hotel offers some of the most spacious guest rooms in the Upper Midwest. Its 230 two and three-room guest suites are designed with a living room and a separate bedroom.
The Minneapolis Marriott Northwest has more than 50,000 square feet of meeting and event space, making it one of the top conference hotels in the Twin Cities area. The hotel has space and capabilities for handling events for up to 850 guests. The facility hosts more than 800 events annually for local and national corporations and associations, community organizations and family events such as weddings.
StepStone Hospitality currently operates two full-service and five select-service Marriott hotels, including the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest. Details on the company's complete portfolio are available at www.stepstonehospitality.com.
About the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest
Conveniently situated at the intersection of Interstate 94 and Boone Avenue, the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest is just minutes from downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul. The hotel has 230 two-room and three-room suites featuring some of the most spacious guest rooms in the Upper Midwest.
About Marriott International
Visit Marriott International Inc. (NYSE: MAR) for company information. For more information or reservations, please visit www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.
About StepStone Hospitality
Founded in 2007, StepStone Hospitality specializes in management for hotel and restaurant operations. The company provides a unique combination of strong, hands-on operations, world-class strategic asset management, and food and beverage expertise, maintaining a balanced focus between revenue enhancement, margin expansion and guest satisfaction. Details are available at www.stepstonehospitality.com.
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 
