The Coralville Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in the heart of the city’s Iowa River Landing will become the Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center and operate under new management, Coralville officials announced this morning.
As of Aug. 18, Marcus Hotels & Resorts of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, will assume management of the facility. The name change will occur on the same date.
“We are excited to partner with Marcus Hotels & Resorts for the future of our hotel and conference center,” Coralville City Administrator Kelly Hayworth said in a release. “Their experience, innovation, and leadership in hospitality, particularly in the Midwest, will be an asset to the city and to the hotel’s guests. Their focus on individual hotel properties and communities sets them apart.”
The hotel and conference center were planned by city leaders as a catalyst for economic and hospitality development, anchoring Iowa River Landing – a redevelopment of a former industrial park and brownfield site. The 180-acre mixed-use development, featuring more than 330,000 square feet of retail, office, residential and entertainment space, has been honored on a national and regional basis by the Phoenix Award for transformational redevelopment. The city-owned hotel has been operated by Marriott since opening in 2006.
“Marcus Hotels & Resorts is thrilled to grow its footprint into Iowa, assume management of this full-service upper upscale hotel and join the vibrant Coralville and Iowa City communities,” said Michael Evans, president of Marcus Hotels & Resorts. “When you look at our hotel portfolio you can see how deep our Big Ten roots run, and we are excited to extend those roots into Hawkeye Country and the broader Eastern Iowa region. We are looking forward to the start of a long and productive relationship with the City of Coralville, and to working with Hyatt to delight our guests and deliver continued operational excellence for this market leading hotel.”
The hotel features 57,588 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting and convention space, boasting an exhibit hall capable of hosting up to 3,000 people, two elegant ballrooms, and 20 flexible breakout meeting spaces. Its hotel rooms and suites feature signature bedding, marble baths, Wi-Fi, and Iowa River views.
With its expertise in developing restaurant and special event destinations, Marcus Hotels & Resorts will be working closely with the city of Coralville to cement Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center as “the place to be for both visitors and locals alike,” the city said in the release.
Following the brand transition, the hotel will benefit from a phased renovation focusing on the Edgewater Grille restaurant and all hotel guest rooms, complementing the 2019 renovation of the prefunction space, lobby, ballrooms, Iowa Writers’ Library and exhibit hall.
“The Iowa City-Coralville area is an exciting destination for so many reasons, including its world class healthcare, vibrant university, growing entrepreneurial hub, and engaging nightlife and cultural scene,” said David Tarr, Hyatt’s senior vice president of development. “We are thrilled to introduce the Hyatt brand to more travelers as we expand into the great state of Iowa, and look forward to a mutually-beneficial partnership with the city of Coralville and Marcus Hotels & Resorts.”
The Marcus Corporation is best known for its movie theater chain. With the addition of Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel & Conference Center, its lodging division owns or manages 19 hotels, resorts and other properties in the U.S. Its theater division, Marcus Theatres, is the fourth largest theater circuit in the U.S. and currently owns or operates 1,097 screens at 89 locations in 17 states under the Marcus Theatres, Movie Tavern by Marcus and BistroPlex brands.
