The downtown Augusta hotel that overlooks the Savannah River has started an interior renovation project, and Augusta Business Daily has several photos of where some of the work will be done.
This marks the first large-scale upgrade since it became the Augusta Marriott Hotel & Suites in Jan. 2006. It opened in Feb. 1992 as the Radisson Riverfront Hotel and Country Suites.
“We’re in the process of going through just an overall improvement plan within the hotel. We’re focusing on case goods, soft goods,” General Manager Brendan England explained for ABD.
Case goods encompass non-upholstered furniture such as dressers, desks, and storage spaces.
Work is underway in guest rooms and corridors. There will be new carpeting, lighting, and bedding. There are also upgrades planned for the pool area, starting with new furniture.
While many of the renovations will be seen only by hotel guests, the public will also notice changes in the lobby, bar, and Augustino’s Restaurant.
“The lobby area is going to see new furniture. That’s credenzas, soft seating, armoires, the displays that we have around the building,” said England. “We’re going from that long desk to breaking it in two so there’s more guest interaction for our associates, where they can come around and meet and greet people.”
The grand staircase will have new carpeting, and a bookcase may be added underneath, but otherwise remains unchanged. However, other parts of the lobby will have a more open concept. Starbucks will remain, but the doors on K.C.’s Korner will be removed, as well as the doors off the lounge.
“Just trying to bring the synergy of a convention and a conference hotel altogether,” England said. “That’s the goal, a place to meet, a great neighborhood location, and any way that we can continue to make it as hospitable and as open and as guest-focused and interactive as we possibly can.”
England said they are cognizant of a looming deadline, the annual influx of hundreds of guests for the Masters Tournament. To accommodate that, physical changes to the restaurant and bar area will begin later this year. The design will be to make those areas more open to the main lobby and reconfigure the bar.
“Those doors come off the lounge, so it’s opened up to the lobby. That bar is kind of a small square now, so it gets expanded out so it’s a bigger U-shaped type of bar,” he described. “Currently, I can fit one and a half to two bartenders behind that bar right now comfortably. I think I’m going to be able to put three of them behind the bar.”
In Augustino’s, there will be fresh carpeting, lighting, wallpaper, and ceiling tiles. While structural work will start later this year, this cosmetic work is expected to begin in February. Ultimately, new tables and chairs will be added.
“When a conference or a convention is hosted here, there’s going to be no barriers to get people to and from where they want to go. You’re going to be able to see where the action is. You’re going to be able to get to it,” he said. “We’re going to be able to cater to more guests. Sometimes, during those heavy demand times, we feel like we run out of space, and that’s because you get busy.”
One change England hopes to make in the restaurant is to bring back a popular attraction. The build-your-own pasta bar was suspended because of the pandemic. It is back in operation, but only on Wednesday. England would like to make it available throughout the week.
England said the upgrades to guest rooms and public areas freshen up the hotel while preserving the sense of community, coupled with the classic appearance.
“We still want this restaurant lounge to be a neighborhood favorite. We still want the local community to come out and dine with us,” he said. “You feel like you’re walking into an old English library, and we don’t want to change that. We don’t want to change that warmth and cozy feel that people have.”
