Prescott SpringHill Suites Gets Extreme Makeover

by Blake Herzog
SpringHill Suites by Marriott is ready to greet Prescott’s fall tourist season with an updated, customized design and style as it starts its next 21 years of service to the market.
Margo Christensen, vice president of marketing and public relations for Ponderosa Hotel Management Services LLC, said all SpringHill properties are required to do an extensive remodel every 21 years, and Ponderosa kept up its end of the bargain with a $4.5 million overhaul.
“Everything came off the walls, everything was repainted, new wall vinyl put in, completely brand-new kitchenettes, brand-new bath furnishings — tubs, showers, sinks all came out. It was down to the bare walls,” she said.
Before, the property at 200 E. Sheldon St. had a country-rustic feel with a hint of the Southwest in its brown, copper and yellow tones. Christensen said the new look is “the complete opposite of what we had before.”
The new design is dominated by whites, silver and grays punctuated by lime green, orange and turquoise, particularly with the lobby furnishings. The spacious business center has two desktop work stations and plenty of seating for those who bring their own devices.
In the 105 guest suites, the vibrant colors come from the art, curtains and a contemporary green pattern woven into the carpet, contrasting with textured ivory walls and light beige sofas and chairs.
Updated bath fixtures contribute to the airy feeling, with king studio suites outfitted with a walk-in shower and the one-bedroom suites equipped with a standalone whirlpool tub, along with a spacious shower stall.
“It’s very bright and contemporary, and several people I’ve toured through it said it feels almost like it should be a property located near a beach,” Christensen said.
The indoor heated pool and whirlpool have been resurfaced, the walls refreshed with cool blues. The fitness center sports a giant dandelion head on a bright blue wall.
The outdoor patio has been refurbished with new seating, tables and fresh white walls, along with a fire pit, barbecue grill and space heaters.
The exterior was also updated from beige to white with blue and orange accents.
“It really stands out and looks really good,” Christensen said.
And the makeover has been greeted with acclaim by the most important critics, she added.
“The feedback we’re getting from our guests is that they love it, they really, really love it,” she said. “The open, bright, contemporary outlook fits us because our guests typically come from Southern California, Phoenix, other major cities around the country, and that’s what they’re a little more used to in a Marriott. So our guests are just absolutely loving it.”
The hotel also offers complimentary breakfasts and an 850-square-foot meeting room, along with a new dual-port electric vehicle charging station with Tesla adapter.
The process of revisioning the property began a year and a half ago with Ponderosa calling in Scottsdale’s Debi Lorraine Designs. Lorraine has worked with Ponderosa on several of its other properties, Christensen said.
“She just came up with some really, really good thoughts and ideas through the design process,” she said. They were given some specifications by Marriott to follow and had to obtain final approvals from the hospitality giant, but had fairly wide latitude to determine what direction the hotel’s theme was going to go.
The onsite work started in January when the third-floor rooms were taken offline, gutted and renovated, moving on to the second floor through the spring and early summer and on to the first story at the beginning of July. Renovation of the first-floor rooms will wrap up in mid-August, close to the original target date.
SpringHill Suites by Marriott opened in September 1999 and is managed and operated under the portfolio of hotels of Ponderosa Hotel Management Services, LLC, headquartered in Prescott. The company also manages Prescott’s Residence Inn by Marriott at 3599 Lee Circle, a Comfort Inn and Sleep Inn in Flagstaff and the Best Western Plus-Sun Canyon Inn in Sierra Vista.
As a locally owned business, SpringHill Suites has historically supported other local businesses, nonprofit organizations and events through sponsorships for the past 21 years. The property has hosted Chamber mixers, arts events, receptions, fundraising events and Christmas events.
To reserve a room at SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Prescott, visit www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/prcsh-springhill-suites-prescott or call 888-466-8440.