Art hotels are all the rage and Milwaukee will be getting its first one in the spring of 2019. What was formerly the Intercontinental Hotel in downtown Milwaukee will now be the Saint Kate Arts Hotel.
Greg Marcus, the CEO and President of Marcus Corporation, spearheaded the idea. His team invited over 400 Milwaukeeans and artists to get a sneak peek of what the Saint Kate Arts Hotel will look like, and what it will mean for Milwaukee’s art community.
Listen to the audio story below to hear more from Greg Marcus.
Saint Kate Arts Hotel reveal, photo by Nate Imig
Amenities are no longer enough, and continental breakfasts and swimming pools aren’t cutting it as consumers are becoming obsessed with experiential hotels.
“It’s about creating an experience,” said Greg Marcus. “They don’t want to just go to a regular hotel, they want an experience.”
With experiential hotels trending, especially arts-focused hotels, Marcus thought it was time for Milwaukee to get its own. The goal is to give Milwaukee artists more exposure by displaying and hosting their work at the hotel. People traveling from around the world to Milwaukee will have the opportunity to get a first-hand look at the incredible work Milwaukee’s artists are putting out, whether it’s visual or performance-based.
The hotel has 219 rooms, each of which will be inspired by local art. The entire first floor of the hotel is expected to double up as an art gallery for hotel guests and locals to visit. There will be a theater for local playwrights and musicians to put on shows, as well as screening room for local filmmakers to show their movies or host panel discussions. The hotel also has space for three restaurants, bars and lounges available throughout the building.
The Saint Kate Arts Hotel plans to open in the spring of 2019. They’re currently accepting proposals for programming and installation ideas. Milwaukee artists looking to get exposure through the hotel can submit their proposal ideas here.
As the Marcus group said at the event, "This is your hotel now."