Can a property designed for extended-stay business travelers also be trendy … and even fun?
Before my recent visit to two new Residence Inn by Marriott properties in Amsterdam and London, I would have said, probably not. After all, the purpose of these properties is to offer some of the comforts of home, along with affordability, to travelers whose purpose in traveling is mostly for work.
It occurred to me, however, as I settled into my room at the Residence Inn by Marriott Amsterdam Houthavens, which opened in July 2018, that adding features typically geared toward leisure and family travelers makes sense in today's world, where "bleisure," the blending of business and leisure travel, is becoming increasingly common.
Consider the Houthavens location, for example, which is not in some boring business district but instead in an up-and-coming dockside area in the Dutch capital, where the development of eateries and attractions is in full swing. The area, which is already home to a number of fashion companies such as Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein, is also relatively near the city center by bike or taxi.
A suite at the Residence Inn by Marriott London Kensington, which opened in July and offers 319 one- and two-bedroom suites.
The property features include 60 studio and one-bedroom suites with living, working and sleeping areas; fully equipped kitchens; and floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the skyline and the bustling harbor. Other amenities include complimentary hot breakfast buffets and WiFi, a 24/7 Grab'n Go market in the lobby and free laundry facilities.
A robust fitness center, the Athletic Club, is open 24/7 and offers a swimming pool, sauna and spa treatment room.
To appeal to guests looking for a break from their work routine, the hotel hosts evening socials from 7 to 8 every Tuesday.
The property, which marks the brand's debut in Amsterdam, is also its first in the Netherlands.
To add to the dining and leisure possibilities, the hotel is part of a dual-branded Residence Inn and Moxy development and shares some facilities with the Moxy Amsterdam Houthavens, including meetings rooms, the largest of which have exclusive access to the ninth-floor roof terrace.
A highlight of the shared spaces is Lars A'dam, a fine dining restaurant on the first floor of the Moxy property created by Lars Scharp and Floor Wiggers, formerly of a Dutch Michelin-starred restaurant called Aan de Poel.
Our Amsterdam experience also included a canal excursion, a guided bike tour of the city center (not for the faint of heart, by the way) and a beer workshop at Troost Westerpark brewery, all within easy distance from the hotel.
A suite at the Residence Inn by Marriott London Kensington, which opened in July and offers 319 one- and two-bedroom suites.
Kensington cool
We then embarked on a two-night stay at the Residence Inn by Marriott London Kensington, the largest property in the extended-stay brand's European portfolio, which opened in July 2018.
The property offers 319 one- and two-bedroom suites, most with private terraces, as well as an eighth-floor terrace where we took a sunrise yoga class one day and attended a private cocktail party on another.
Suites feature living, working and sleeping areas; full kitchens; complimentary WiFi; smart TVs; USB plugs; and ample desk space. Like the Amsterdam property, the hotel also offers complimentary breakfast daily as well as a Grab'n Go market, grocery delivery service, a fitness center and free laundry facilities.
The hotel is about a 10-minute walk from the Olympia exhibition center and about a mile from such leisure attractions as the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Science Museum, Royal Albert Hall and the Natural History Museum.
During our visit, we also toured the Residence Inn London Bridge, which opened in August 2017 and which offers the advantage of being walking distance to such touristy spots as Borough Market and Flat Iron Square.
All three properties are operated under a franchise agreement with hotel management company Cycas Hospitality, specialists in the extended-stay market.
Residence Inn also opened a property in Aberdeen, Scotland, in November 2017; in Frankfurt, Germany, in November 2018; and in Toulouse, France, in December 2018.