As one of the first warm “summer” weekends arrives on our doorstep this weekend, the new Courtyard by Marriott St. Joseph/Benton Harbor is excited to be welcoming guests. Having opened for business just under three weeks ago on May 17th, the hotel from Pinnacle Hospitality Group features an innovative lobby space as well as Courtyard’s latest contemporary room design. The new hotel provides flexibility and choices that allow guests to optimize and elevate their travel experience.
Located at 1295 Cinema Way in Benton Township side by side with two other Pinnacle properties, the 104-room and suite hotel will operate as a Marriott franchise, managed by Michigan-based Pinnacle Hospitality. Spencer Sandiha from Pinnacle Hospitality says, “We are so very proud to offer our Southwest Michigan guests this state of the art hotel. Marriott truly put a lot of thought into the amenities, design, and ambiance of this new Courtyard prototype.”
Sandiha says, “Our team is excited to offer you a modern stay and the perks of a select service hotel offering Starbucks café and great craft beer, wine, and spirits selections in our lounge.” He notes that whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, the Courtyard St Joseph/Benton Harbor offers convenient access to Whirlpool Corporation headquarters and beautiful Silver Beach nestled along the shores of Lake Michigan. The new property is also just minutes from the esteemed Harbor Shores Golf Club which is home to the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship. Sandiha also makes a point of noting that the hotel is also located nearby to Bosch, Cook Nuclear Plant and Palisades Nuclear Power Plant.
Courtyard constantly researches trends and evolves to meet the changing needs of its guests. The latest room design offers hybrid zones for working, sleeping, relaxing and getting ready for the day. Indirect lighting and a neutral, tone-on-tone color palette make for a soothing and calm environment.
Janis Milham is Senior Vice President and Global Brand Leader for Classic Select Brands. She says, “From day one, Courtyard has prided itself as a brand that listens to business travelers,” and adds, “Today’s technology has changed how people travel. Our guests want a room that has purpose and flexibility that enables a seamless transition between relaxing and working. Courtyard is designed to offer them a relaxing and functional space to work the way they want to, when they want to.”
The new room design is intuitive and thoughtful, offering flexible yet comfortable spaces that enable technology. Upon arrival, guests can store bags on the “Luggage Drop” and plug personal devices into the “Tech Drop” ledge for seamless technology integration.
Signature furniture and architectural elements replace traditional art in the new guestroom. The “Lounge Around” sofa offers a pop of color and a comfortable area for relaxing or for working. The new design also features a light desk on wheels, allowing guests to work from anywhere in the room.
An upgraded, more spacious layout creates an enhanced bathroom experience. A “Shower Nook” housing shampoos and towels, makes amenities accessible without having to leave the shower.
The Courtyard St Joseph/Benton Harbor features the brand’s latest lobby design, where guests can enjoy an open and modern environment outside of their rooms. The newly designed Bistro is the epicenter of the lobby, which fosters social connections and collaboration with more flexible and informal seating options. The Courtyard also proudly brews Starbucks coffee in their café with espresso, lattes, and more. The Bistro also offers guests a wide variety of “made to order” breakfast and dinner items, “grab and go” options, and also features an array of cocktails, beer and wine for guests to unwind at the end of the day.
Throughout the hotel, guests can connect with ample electrical outlets. The business library features several computer terminals, along with a printer and separate computer stations dedicated solely to printing airline boarding passes and checking flight status.
The four-story hotel features an indoor swimming pool, large fitness center, guest laundry, spacious outdoor seating, and offers 1,800 square feet of meeting space to accommodate functions of up to 125 guests.
Sandiha tells us his company’s heritage is strong, noting, “We are proud to have been serving this community for 20 years at the Holiday Inn Express as well as providing lodging facilities to every type of traveler with the three new properties along Cinema Way. The Springhill Suites being an all suites property, the Staybridge Suites providing an extended stay property for long term guests, and now the Courtyard by Marriott which offers all the amenities of a limited service hotel, with the additional offerings of food and beverage to guests.” He concludes, “These properties were developed with the intention to serve everyone in Michigan’s Great Southwest whether traveling for business or vacation.”
