Jan. 18–COLONIE — The Albany Marriott hotel, with new guest rooms, fitness center, a brighter lobby, and other improvements, held its grand opening Thursday afternoon with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours.
The 32-year-old hotel launched its $15 million renovation project in October 2016, replacing furnishings and heating and air conditioning units, rebuilding the elevators, and even replacing curtains to allow more natural light into the lobby and main corridor.
New carpeting and lighter upholstery also were installed.
Hotel General Manager Todd Reichelt showed a reporter new guest rooms where bathrooms had been rebuilt with glass-enclosed walk-in showers and tile imported from Italy.
The hotel, at 189 Wolf Road in Colonie, has four floors of concierge level rooms, and attracts between 100 and 150 platinum and gold-level Marriott loyalty program guests each night, who qualify for the concierge upgrades, said Reichelt.
Technology at the hotel has undergone an upgrade as well, with faster wifi and mobile check-in. The hotel plans to introduce Marriott's Mobile Key, which allows guests to use the Marriott app on their smartphones to select a room, in coming months. Their phone also will unlock the room, eliminating the need to stop at the check-in counter.
The hotel last underwent major renovations in 2007.
