March 1, 2002 - London-based independent luxury hotel group Le Meridien
announced today that Minneapolis will be the first U.S. location of its
anticipated Art + Tech design product. This announcement was made at a
joint news conference held by Juergen Bartels, chief executive officer
of Le Meridien and Jim Graves, CEO of Graves Hospitality Corporation, the
developers, owners and operators of the project, located on the vibrant
new Block E development in Minneapolis' new downtown theatre, entertainment
and business district.
| The Art + Tech by Le Meridien at Minneapolis will showcase all standard
Art + Tech design concepts and amenities throughout its public spaces and
255 guest rooms when it debuts this November. Strategically positioned
in Minneapolis' thriving entertainment district, this new hotel will feature
15,000 square feet of meeting space, a sleek restaurant offering contemporary
cuisine, a fashionable street-level bar and comprehensive fitness center.
"We are thrilled to be partnering with Le Meridien to bring the industry's
most exciting new product to my hometown, Minneapolis," Graves remarked.
"Art + Tech by Le Meridien will provide our visitors with cutting edge
luxury accommodations, bringing an added element of innovation and surprise
to the Block E project."
Art + Tech by Le Meridien was conceived by Bartels, an internationally-renowned
hotelier, on the philosophy that today's upscale traveller demands substance
and comfort in a hotel, and has become tired of similar looking, interchangeable
room products offered by competitor upscale hotel chains. After interviewing
a variety of interior designers to bring his vision to reality, Bartels
selected London museum designer Yvonne Golds of Real Studios for the prototype
at London's Russell Hotel in November 2001. Today, Art + Tech by Le Meridien
is being partially incorporated into such traditional landmark properties
as Le Meridien's Grosvenor House in London, and several hotels, including
the Minneapolis project, will be entirely comprised of Art + Tech. Of Le
Meridien's 40,000-plus rooms, some 5,000 will be transformed into Art +
Tech during the next three years. |
Juergen Bartels
CEO, Le Meridien
Juergen Bartels (�JB�) was appointed Chief Executive Officer
of London-based Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts in July 2001 when
Nomura International plc�s Principal Finance Group acquired the company.
At the same time, Le Méridien was merged with Principal Hotels,
acquired by Nomura earlier in the year. Today Bartels oversees Le Méridien�s
current portfolio of 144 hotels (38,631 rooms) in 55 countries with a £1
billion-plus ($1.4 billion) turnover.
Bartels has held top management positions with major hotel
companies in Europe, Canada and the United States.
A native of Hanover, Germany, Bartels began his hotel
career in 1956 at the age of 16 and trained in all aspects of the industry
in Europe. He held his first general manager position in 1966, his first
position as vice president in 1967 and his first position as president
of a hotel company in 1978, when he moved to the United States to lead
Ramada�s Hotel Group. There, he founded Renaissance Hotels.
In 1983, Bartels was appointed president and chief executive
officer of Carlson Hospitality Group, a position he held for 12 years.
Bartels joined Westin Hotels & Resorts in 1995 as
chairman and chief executive officer, when the company was funded by Starwood
Capital, Goldman Sachs and members of the management team.
Three years later, after Westin�s operating margins had
increased from 28% to 38% and the company had added 65 hotels to its portfolio,
Westin was purchased for over $1.8 billion by Starwood Hotels & Resorts,
which simultaneously appointed Bartels CEO of its Hotel Group.
Bartels moved to the UK in 2000 prior to becoming Chief
Executive of Le Méridien.
He has been married to his wife Rachel for over 30 years
and is an avid European football fan. |
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Design and substance components include:
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Backlit photographs, commissioned for Le Meridien, take inspiration from
the culture, lifestyles and galleries of each local hotel market.
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Glass-etched, handcrafted headboards are one of the most unusual and dramatic
focal points in each room
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Wall-mounted, 42" plasma screen televisions with in-room entertainment
systems provide music, video and hotel information on demand. Plasma screens
also provide high speed internet access.
-
Specially designed beds (in many cases, electronically-controlled), provide
the ultimate sleep experience.
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Bathrooms feature freestanding shower towers with multiple body jets and
glass screens. Some bathrooms will feature steel circular showers or Victorian
style roll-type baths.
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Specially-commissioned amenities include luxury toiletries and an exclusive,
100-gram bar of Hermes soap.
"The Art + Tech Hotel by Le Meridien at Minneapolis will introduce the
United States to a dramatically different style of hotel product offering
an experience never seen before in a global luxury hotel group," remarks
Le Meridien Chief Executive Officer Juergen Bartels. "We look forward to
continuing to expand Art + Tech in other strategic markets as we move forward
with our aggressive expansion plans for Le Meridien both here and abroad."
Graves Hospitality Corporation is dedicated to the development and management
of unique high-end destination oriented lodging properties in strong metropolitan
markets. In addition to the Art + Tech Hotel by Le Meridien at Minneapolis,
Graves Hospitality Corporation plans to partner with Le Meridien on future
Art + Tech hotels in the United States. Established in 1979 by James J.
Graves, Graves Development has developed, constructed and provided management
services to more than 85 properties over the past 20 years.
Le Meridien is a global hotel group with a portfolio of 145 luxury and
upscale hotels (41,630 rooms) in 55 countries worldwide. The majority of
it properties are located in the world's top cities and resorts throughout
Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. The company
also enjoys a strategic alliance with JAL-owned Nikko Hotels, providing
loyal guests access to an additional 42 properties around the world. Headquartered
in London, the group was purchased by Nomura International plc's Principal
Finance Group in July 2001 and merged with Principal Hotels, acquired by
Nomura in February 2001. Bartels was appointed CEO in July.
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