Art Ovation Hotel, Autograph Collection - Sarasota, FL [Master Thread]
Aug 22, 2017, 12:34 pm
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/trav...ph-collection/
Opening December 2017. Cat 7. No exec lounge.
"We offer something unique to Sarasota, inspired and designed to engage the city’s thriving arts scene. With on-site art installations, performances, and workshops, our guests are invited to interact and be part of the experience. Never static, always evolving, creativity is encouraged and everything conventional is reinvestigated and reinterpreted."
Aug 25, 2017, 8:48 am
(Though the merger means the Aloft and Westin are options as well.)
Jul 19, 2018, 9:14 pm
Feb 13, 2019, 6:38 pm
Mar 8, 2019, 12:28 am
Mar 9, 2019, 5:12 am
Mar 11, 2019, 7:49 am
Mar 11, 2019, 9:12 am
liked the towels. Service was very friendly, and breakfast was good (though the $15 credit would not cover a full breakfast and coffee). I love mid century modern style, but some of their design decisions left me shaking my head. The hallways are very dark and gloomy, and the wallpaper in the elevator gave me a headache. The 3 pools are nice, but the sun beds are all right next to each other, so if it’s crowded you could find yourself lying next to a stranger. When I was there, they were blasting music not to my taste nonstop—I also heard it, but not horribly loud, in my room. It strikes me as very boutique, quasi-hip hotel. If you’re driving, the location won’t make a difference, but if you’re walking, it’s about 10 minutes to the very edge of the downtown entertainment/dining district, longer if you’re going, say, to Main & Lemon.
I think the Art Ovation is in a much handier location, and given the good reports I’ve heard, I’d be inclined to stay there, or return to the Westin, next time.
Jun 20, 2019, 7:03 am
As a Titanium they offer either a cold/modest continental breakfast in the restaurant or points. I took the latter as I had a breakfast meeting. The service from the front desk was particularly good (I wish I remembered the lady's name who was so helpful). The room was spacious, modern, creative (I tried to strum the ukulele), and I love the Nespresso machine and proceeded to use up all the espresso pods! The only odd thing was that the rooftop pool bar closed at 10 PM. I mean I know it's Sarasota...but come on, haha!!
May 29, 2022, 7:26 pm
Art Ovation Hotel, Autograph Collection
Art Ovation Hotel, Autograph Collection
1255 North Palm Avenue Sarasota, US 34236
Art Ovation Hotel Review (17 Photos)
Art Ovation Hotel, Autograph Collection
I booked this hotel using points (39 K) for a one-night weekend stay with a friend of mine. We just wanted to have a night out and explore the area.
The hotel has artwork all over the place and interesting artwork outside. Definitely not a cookie cutter hotel.
Check In
We had entered in the app that we would check in early, around 13:30. The hotel was fully booked, so I was not expecting any upgrades. I asked at check in, but was told that they were sold out.
They offered me as a Ambassador two selections of amenities - $10 USD food an beverage credit or 1000 points (I chose the points - and - 750 points or continental breakfast (which is actually a 14 USD per person per day breakfast discount). I chose the breakfast option.
We received a welcome cocktail, which was unfortunately served in a plastic cup. It otherwise tasted good.
The key is handed over in a rather nice wallet. Mobile keys were also issued, but I never used them.
A view of the lobby area, including some of the art work on display and for sale. Pieces were listed at 10,000 - 30,000 USD each.
The destination fee includes daily activities.
Room
The room is well equipped. One of the quirks of this hotel is that part of your 28 USD (31.36 with tax) destination fee is a musical instrument in the room. We had a very out of tune ukulele.
In the bathroom there are wall-mounted Molton Brown products. Plus points for not using single use bottles!
View from the room - "City View"
Of four hotels I tried on this trip, this was the first one with a coffee machine!
The items that were in the destination fee-perhaps the most useful one is the local shuttle. It operates in a range of 3 miles, which is far enough for the beaches and St. Armands Circle.
The website uses wording that could be interpreted as meaning all guests will be charged for parking at the rate of 20 USD. However, we were not charged for the parking. As a matter of fact we never were charged by the public parking garage we used (which should have charged us 20 USD).
I did get a welcome amenity with a handwritten note, which was nice. However, the seven grapes, melted energy bar and cheap potato chips seemed underwhelming. I though the apple and trail mix without the other stuff would have made a better impression.
Dining
We only tried the breakfast at the hotel. You can order a la carte or take the buffet at 20 USD (++). The buffet includes a bottomless coffee. On the menu there is one continental breakfast option including coffee for 14 USD (++). This is the breakfast item you can get with the platinum amenity and have 0 cost.
My friend ordered from the menu. The presentation was good and he said it was tasty. I went for the buffet option.
After the 28 USD deduction, I think the final bill was 14 USD with tax and tip.
You can sit inside or on the outdoor terrace which has about 6-8 tables along the street. We went for the street option and found it very pleasant.
Entrance to the breakfast restaurant
Menu page 2
Menu page 1
Buffet selection
From the a la carte menu
Location
The hotel is well located to all of the city. I liked that it was not on one of the keys, where all the traffic is. It is a 45 minute walk to the Circle, but you can also take a 10 minutes Uber for about 10 USD or take the shuttle that is included in the destination fee.
Rooftop
The pool at the top is really small. With just about 6-8 people in it, it already looked too full. It was also a sunny, hot day and both me and my friend found it looked overcrowded and uninteresting. We did like the rooftop bar and planned on returning after dusk to see the nighttime views. However, that never happened as we had enough before we got back to the hotel and ended up going directly to the room.