Chambers Hotel joins Le Meridien flag

The Chambers Hotel in downtown Minneapolis has joined the Le Méridien chain, the brand’s parent company, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, announced Tuesday.

The art-focused boutique hotel will be Starwood’s 10th Le Méridien in North America; it also marks a return of the brand to Minneapolis.

The Block E luxury hotel, now known as Graves 601 Hotel Minneapolis, was originally flagged Le Méridien until owner Graves Hotels Resorts changed the name in 2005 after White Plains, N.Y., based Starwood (NYSE: HOT) acquired the brand.

“Chambers will serve as a flagship for Le Méridien’s North American portfolio and a perfect example of its new direction as a creative hub in vibrant cities around the world,” said Eva Ziegler, global brand leader for Le Méridien and W Hotels Worldwide, in a statement.

The deal solidifies the relationship between the Chambers and the W Minneapolis - The Foshay; both hotels are owned by Ralph Burnet.

The W’s general manager, Susan Mabry, also will manage the Chambers. She had been acting GM there since late last year, when the previous GM accepted a position on the West Coast.

The Le Méridien Chambers has 60 guest rooms, all featuring original artwork, as does the hotel’s common areas.