On the Road to Becoming a Marriott

Now that exterior changes are finished, the Northland Hotel and Conference Center in Brooklyn Park is launching the second phase of its $24 million renovation to become part of the Marriott hotel chain.

Once the work is complete, probably this summer, the property will become the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest, according to StepStone Hospitality, the hotel’s management company.

The exterior work included the addition of new limestone and granite stonework and ornamental metalwork to the porte cochere. (Although your blogger completed both high school and college French she had to look up this term. It means a roofed entryway where people can access or exit vehicles.)

A new roof, brickwork, lighting and painting was part of the mix, as well. Landscaping and an irrigation system will wait until spring.

Next up? Work on guest rooms in the 230-room hotel, and meeting space, including three ballrooms, a 140-seat amphitheater and 25 smaller meeting rooms. All told, the hotel has more than 33,000 square feet of meeting space, making it one of the top 10 conference hotels in the Twin Cities. The lobby and front-desk area will be rehabbed, as well as the fitness center and a new restaurant.

The hotel will remain open during renovations. It was purchased in October 2010 by a joint venture between principals of Rhode Island-based Hotel Asset Value Enhancement Inc. and an institutional investment fund advised by Long Wharf Real Estate Partners LLC.

Reported by:  Startribune