Marriott Marries Technology and Sustainability
Vadim Liberman August 05, 2014
The new Courtyard by Marriott Irvine Spectrum now lets you avoid one of the germiest parts of a hotel room—by enabling you to transform your smart phone into a TV remote.
That’s just one of several high-tech features at the 210-room property, which aims to lure business travelers with a fusion of technology, sustainability and a hint of luxury (but only a hint—this is still a Courtyard, after all).
By partnering with Guest-Tek, a high-speed Internet supplier to the hospitality industry, Marriott allows guests to stream content directly to a Samsung smart TV from a phone, tablet, laptop or other personal device. What’s more, all rooms—partially constructed with recycled wood—come with an iPod docking station.
Those aren’t the hotel’s only stations, though. Outside, Marriott has installed charging stations for electric vehicles.
In addition to the hotel’s efforts to go green—recycling bins dot much of the property—it also overlooks plenty of natural green. The eight-story structure, built by R.D. Olson Construction, offers expansive views of Saddleback Mountain and Laguna Canyon.
And speaking of expansive, the Courtyard boasts 8,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, with an additional 5,000 square feet outdoors—which is where guests might mistake this business-class hotel for a mini-resort. A 75-foot lap pool (complete with swimming lanes), spa, poolside cabana, fire pit and putting green are some of the leisure amenities here.
Plus, should the hotel ever book up, guests will soon have the option to stay next door—at another R.D. Olson lodging. Olson expects to break ground on this next 175-room endeavor in 2015.
[Photo: Marriott]
