Originally Posted by downtownphxguy12
(Post 9928705)
It says a lot about a hotel and the vibe it is trying to create when the front desk and the lobby bar are the same thing. That is what the Moxy Downtown Phoenix is doing.
Set to open in June, the hotel, which is located on nine floors of the historic Luhrs Building in downtown Phoenix, is one of the more unique hospitality properties in the Phoenix area, Eren Bicakci, the general manager or “captain” of the Moxy Downtown Phoenix, told the Business Journal.
“The bartender will serve you your favorite drink when you check in,” Bicakci said. “It’s like a college dorm feel with the open spaces and community tables.”
The 164-room hotel was built to be “efficient.” The rooms are smaller, each featuring bunk beds, twins and just a single queen bed. Bicakci said the rooms weren’t meant to be stayed in for weeks or months at a time, but a place to crash after going to a game or concert and drinking at the lobby bar.
“We want to be the party central for the pre-party and after-party. They can have the real party somewhere else,” Bicakci said. “But before the game, before the concert, this will be the meeting point and the place to go afterwards.”
Rendering of the lobby of the upcoming Moxy Downtown Phoenix.
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Rendering of the lobby of the upcoming Moxy Downtown Phoenix.
PEG COMPANIES
The hotel is being developed by the hospitality arm of Utah-based PEG Cos., which purchased the building in 2019 for $14 million. The development of the hotel was put on hold for several months because of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
Because the Luhrs Building is a historic property and PEG wanted to preserve and feature many of the historic touches of the building, development took longer than most projects, Bicakci said. Overall, the project cost more than $40 million to develop.
Besides the bar, there is a game area on the ground floor and a library/sitting area above the bar area. The hotel also features a fitness center and will have valet parking.
European roots
The Moxy brand is under the Marriott International Inc. (Nasdaq: MAR) umbrella and has its roots in Europe. The Moxy brand has been associated with hanging up provocative images and throwing big parties. While it still is a bit irreverent, Bicakci said some of those vibes have been dialed back a bit, but Marriott wants Moxy to be one of the most edgy brands out there.
“It is literally one of my brand standards to force my employees to have fun with the guests,” Bicakci said. “We are not saying ‘sir’ or ‘at your service,’ ‘how may I help you?’ If you call the front desk, we will pick up the phone and say ‘Hey, what's up?’”
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The historic Luhrs Building in downtown Phoenix will be home to the Moxy Downtown Phoenix hotel.
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The historic Luhrs Building in downtown Phoenix will be home to the Moxy Downtown Phoenix hotel.
PEG COMPANIES
This is the second Moxy hotel in the Valley, coming after the Moxy in Tempe, which Bicakci said has performed well being near Arizona State University.
Jairah Ramirez, Moxy Downtown Phoenix’s director of sales, said the property is targeting both business and leisure travelers, as well as locals who want to extend their night out in downtown Phoenix.
“We are for the weekend warriors coming out for the concerts, the shows, the games, all of that,” Ramirez said. “We like to call out guests the ‘fun hunters.’”
While set to open in June, the property is taking reservations online starting in August.
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