Downtown Knoxville’s newest hotels opened quietly a few days ago and are open for business. The two Marriott hotels are housed together, with the Residence Inn occupying the south side of the building and the Courtyard occupying the north. They share a number of amenities.
It’s been a long road to this point. It was almost three years ago that I first wrote of the possibility the hotels might be placed at the old cite of the Knoxville News Sentinel, which was demolished over a decade ago. With the hotels now completed, it’s interesting to observe the amount of texture they add to the south end of Gay Street. Visible from numerous angles over the older buildings on the 700 block of our main street.
Mike Sellge is the General Manager and Ruth Lyons, Director of Sales arranged for Hannah Saterfield to give me a tour of the hotels. There are 232 total rooms. Of these, eighty are Residence Inn rooms designed for longer-term stays. Sixteen are one-bedroom and sixty-four are studios. The remaining 152 rooms form the Courtyard and are split between single and double beds.
Amenities include a large breakfast room and lounge called the Hearth Room (there is a fireplace) for Residence Inn guests. A Fitness Center and coin laundry is available for all guests of either hotel. A conference room (The Market Square Room) with seating for about sixty is available for rental for guests or others. The Hearth Room is also available for conferences and is already scheduled for use by a group in town for the Bassmaster Classic.
A central feature, open for guests and the general public, is the Courtyard Bistro. Open for breakfast 6:30 AM to 9:30 AM Monday through Friday and 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM and for dinner and/or drinks from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM seven nights a week, the restaurant is now open for business.
Guests (hotel or general public) may also take their drinks or food up to the terrace (dubbed the “Above Church Terrace) where tables and umbrellas are waiting. The space also features two grills for use by hotel guests and a beautiful firepit. The attractive space, visible from the street is also available for rentals by private groups.
I also got a warm welcome from Ariel Williams, the Food and Beverage Manager. Under her guidance, the kitchen offers a range of lighter fare up to full entrees, or “Bistro Classics,” such as Vegetable Baked Pasta and Roasted Herb Chicken Breast.
A full bar is available for cocktails and a limited wine menu, plus craft and other beers. She said they will have some local beer and is open to suggestions. Bar hours are also 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Interestingly, the hotel offers a number of Starbucks coffee drinks and, as I understand it, they are available 24/7. 2:30 AM coffee, anyone?
The hotel, the first extended-stay hotel in downtown Knoxville, also offers on-site, internal parking, which is also a first for downtown. Parking rates are $15 per day for self-parking and $20 a day for valet parking. The hotel is owned by Paramount Knoxville, LLC and is operated by Paramount Hospitality Management out of Atlanta.