PORTLAND, Maine
Marriott International's exclusive Autograph Collection will welcome The Press Hotel, located in Portland, Maine—and housed in the historic Portland Press Herald newspaper building—into its lineup, upon its scheduled opening in May 2015.
The Press Hotel aims to capture the essence of Portland by showcasing Maine artisans, craftsmen and local culinary talent. A front-desk "letterpress art wall" sculpture will welcome guests in the main lobby. There will also be a "Mainer" art gallery, open to the public, for quiet moments or cocktail sipping. The gallery's signature piece will be an eye-catching installation made from antique typewriters.
The hotel will also celebrate the city's local authors and arts community, and has commissioned all of the artwork for the hotel to local painters, textile makers and wood-workers.
Located at the corner of Exchange and Congress Streets in the Old Port neighborhood, the hotel's brand identity and ethos stem from its location in the historic Portland Press Herald building.
Referencing the building's history, architecture group Stonehill & Taylor, responsible for the hotel's design, worked closely with Portland Press Herald editors to select content from the newspaper's pages to incorporate into various aspects of the design.
The hotel's 110 guest rooms include a Penthouse Suite with exclusive rooftop access and 360-degree views of the city; four private function rooms will also be available for groups and special events. The guest room design is inspired by a 1920s writer's office including a vintage-style journalist desk and playful newsroom references throughout. Each bathroom will feature a reeded glass door similar to those in historic newspaper offices. Wood floors with herringbone area rugs give a residential feel and prints by Portland-area artists will decorate the walls. A woven wall tapestry by local artist Angela Adams has been designed exclusively for the hotel.
In line with Autograph Collection's overall specialized consumer offerings, guests of The Press Hotel can expect surprising and playful touches like customizable 'do not disturb' signs, "Hot off the Press" French-pressed coffee, and typewriter-key shaped coasters. Thought-provoking author's quotes will also be delightful discoveries at unexpected turns – from closet walls and in-room safes, to meeting spaces and the lobby bar.
Aiming to enhance the already vibrant Portland dining scene, The Press Hotel will be home to the 65-seat restaurant M.C. UNION, by James Beard Award-winning chefs Mark Gaier and Clark Frasier. Menu details will be available later this spring and will feature creative takes on recognizable 'Americana' favorites from coast to coast, that will highlight the chefs' California and Maine backgrounds.
The lobby bar, The Inkwell, will feature handcrafted vintage cocktails.
