citizenM has opened its first property in Miami, while Seattle and Atlanta welcome new hotels.
citizenM debuts in Miami
citizenM has opened its first property in Miami, citizenM Miami Brickell.
To mark the brand’s arrival in Miami, citizenM partnered with Miami born-and-raised artist Jen Stark to create five bright and vibrant large-scale pieces of artwork that unite to create one composition for the Brickell property facade. The 252-room hotel with this conversation-sparking art installation bridges citizenM’s playful personality with Brickell’s cosmopolitan atmosphere, according to the company. Inside, eight societyM meeting rooms offer style, tech and unlimited coffee to let ideas flow. The hotel will also feature the brand’s first rooftop pool, offering sweeping views of Miami’s downtown for in-house guests.
As with all of its hotels, citizenM continues to bring art to the community through both commissioned and existing works. Commissioned artists Theresa Chromati and Lakwena Maciver created inspiring pieces for the citizenM Miami Brickell location. Chromati’s “Variations of Her Movements – Exploding and Exploring” shows an optimistic and hopeful journey—where she explores the act of unraveling your life, building yourself back up and moving forward to live in your full power. In the hotel’s entrance, Maciver’s kaleidoscopic colors, bold patterns and powerful message with “Good Life” provokes a deeper conversation. She explores how society showers certain people with money and glory and what this reflects about our values and beliefs. Thousands of citizenM guests will come face-to-face with these artists’ thought-provoking art.
Additionally, to give the property an art collection that felt distinct to Miami, citizenM hosted an “Open Art Call” where more than 70 artists submitted works inspired by their love of the city. The panel of judges consisted of Rattan Chadha, founder of citizenM and contemporary art collector; Stark; Rob Wagemans, creative director at citizenM and founder of Concrete; Maciver, artist and creator of the hotel’s interior artwork; and FriendsWithYou, the art collaboration of Samuel Borkson and Arturo Sandoval III. Together, the judges selected ten winners to permanently showcase their pieces across the guestrooms of the hotel and citizenM Miami World Center (opening later this year). The 10 chosen artists, many of whom are self-taught, created dynamic, colorful pieces adding a creative flair to the rooms.
The hotel’s entrance leads into a non-traditional lobby-styled living room that feels like home, furnished with books, art and furniture from the company’s long-standing partner, Vitra. In the heart of the living room is a canteenM, serving food and drinks 24/7. The property also has two terraces: one overlooking S. Miami Avenue and the other facing a lush green garden space.
The citizenM guestrooms are uniform in style and size—optimized for relaxation with a wall-to-wall window, an XL king-size bed topped with the finest European linens, a power shower, and an HDTV with streaming capabilities. A MoodPad tablet controls the ambiance—from temperature to blinds to entertainment.
Stanford Hotels opens Astra Hotel in Seattle
Seattle’s new Astra Hotel has opened, centrally located a half mile from the south end of Lake Union, a half mile west of the Space Needle and about a mile north of the Seattle Convention Center.
With 5,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and 265 guestrooms, the 16-story hotel can accommodate groups of up to 143 theater style in its 2,060-sq.-ft., naturally lit Luna Ballroom. A second 1,767-sq.-ft. ballroom, Halo, can be configured as four small meeting rooms, while two boardrooms round out the group space.
Amenities include the Otium Grill & Greens restaurant; a rooftop bar and lounge with views of the Seattle skyline (opening in August); and a fitness center with Peloton bikes, weights and Life Fitness equipment. Caffe Ladro, a staple of Seattle celebrated coffee scene, has an outpost in the lobby.
Astra Hotel, which is independently owned and operated by San Francisco-based Stanford Hotels Corp., is part of Marriott’s Tribute portfolio.
The Starling debuts in Atlanta
The Starling Atlanta Midtown, Curio Collection by Hilton, has officially debuted as the latest evolution of Atlanta’s Hotel Midtown.
Formerly known as the W Atlanta Midtown, the hotel’s new identity, under the Curio Collection by Hilton brand, pays homage to its home in “the city in the forest” and takes inspiration from the starling bird that can be found in nearby Piedmont Park.
Starlings are a highly social group of birds often seen in large gatherings swooping through the Georgia sky in intricately coordinated patterns symbolic of the dynamic community surrounding the hotel and the vibrant individuals who visit. Connecting to the energy and creativity of these birds, the property’s new identity not only includes a stylish new rebrand. but will be complemented with a revamped lineup of hotel programming, according to the company. Additionally, the property features updates to both the hotel spa, rebranded as The Spa at The Starling, and to the lobby bar, to re-debut as the hotel’s newest food and beverage concept, Lantana.
Lantana is named after a flower known for its brightly colored blooms, a nod to the vibrancy of the lounge and its bold, floral design. The name also speaks to the garden of experiences guests can enjoy over cocktails and meals as guests and visitors alike will now be able to enjoy all-day full service from breakfast to dinner to late-night drinks. Culinary offerings will be led by Executive Chef Cole Pate. Prior to joining The Starling, Pate served as sous chef at the renowned Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC and later executive chef of local Atlanta favorites, The Southern Gentleman and Gyspy Kitchen.
The Starling features 433 guestrooms and 33 suites with city views and 45,500 sq. ft. of meeting space, including 9,400 sq. ft. of ballroom space and a top-floor event space featuring panoramic views of the city. Public spaces also offer an expansive terrace pool, a lobby lounge, as well as a spa and fitness center.
