Courtyard by Marriott takes a piece of history and makes it their own.
With 121 guest rooms, four unique event spaces, and two outdoor patios with breathtaking city views, Courtyard by Marriott Jefferson City is bringing more than 6,000 square feet of new event space to the capital city, with a historic twist.
Situated on the site of the old St. Mary’s Hospital, Marriott’s new property opened in December 2020. Through a partnership with the Historic Preservation Commission, Courtyard Jefferson City pays homage to St. Mary’s by incorporating unique architectural and design elements throughout the hotel.
“The Historic Preservation Commission helped with the direction of the preservation,” says Michele Braun, director of sales for Courtyard Jefferson City. “The north end of the building uses the original 1904 limestone rock from the hospital, and the historic dome is utilized at the front entrance. All the flower planters around the building are also made from the original brick.”
It’s a unique use of the space once occupied by St. Mary’s, which moved to a new state-of-the-art building in 2014. Because of St. Mary’s deep history in Jefferson City, the site holds special memories for many generations of the city’s residents.
“For anybody that is a native of the Jefferson City area, it is a cool thing to see the way the site has been redeveloped,” Michele says. “A lot of people who are from here were born at this hospital, or they had children born here, or they had elderly family members who passed away at the hospital — so the space has meaningful memories for a lot of people.”
Inside, Courtyard Jefferson City is one of the first Marriott properties in the country to feature a new, modern design concept. According to Michele, the “less-is-more type of look” is sleek, and travelers and other guests have all of the amenities they may need during their stay away from home.
“For anybody that is a native of the Jefferson City area, it is a cool thing to see the way the site has been redeveloped.”
— Michele Braun
The lobby area features a lounge with flexible seating that is comfortable for both working and relaxing. A 24-hour shop called Crate features snacks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, toiletries, and a self-service Starbucks machine. The hotel’s pool gives guests a cool place to relax, and the 24-hour fitness area has free weights, a weight machine, a treadmill, a stationary bike, and a stretching or yoga area. Guests are also given covered parking and an area to print documents. The Courtyard Bistro offers a fast-casual dining experience with savory flatbread pizzas, wings, burgers, salads, pasta, and appetizers, and it’s open to the public daily for breakfast, bar service, and dinner.
“We have a great setting,” Michele says. “If people want to grab a coffee or a cocktail and sit out on our patio and relax for the evening, we have the city view. The patio is up on a hill and overlooks the Capitol, the Truman Building, and the courthouse. You can see all of Jefferson City. It’s a beautiful setting out there to enjoy one of The Bistro’s signature cocktails like a black cherry old-fashioned, cucumber margarita, or an espresso martini.”
The Bistro is also open to the public and has become a great place for locals to enjoy. With ample seating available, there is plenty of room for groups of friends to enjoy their spirits sitting by a luxury fire pit or gathered together in a booth complete with its own TV.
If you’re looking to host a large event, Courtyard Jefferson City is home to a 3,000-square-foot room that can be divided into two separate event spaces. When the divider is open, the space can host 130 people for a seated dinner, including room for a head table, podium, and round tables that seat up to 10. Although there isn’t a true dance floor, there is an area that can be used for dancing. Michele says the events team at Courtyard Jefferson City has hosted more than 120 corporate and social functions since opening last year, making sure to incorporate creative layouts for events and utilizing every bit of space around the venue, including the two patios.
“We have a partnership with U.S. Rents-It, and they have all the dimensions of our patio area,” Michele says. “They rent tents that can have air conditioning or heat, so it can be turned into a space that is usable year round. A lot of events will use that patio space for a reception area, bar area, or dance area with entertainment.”
For smaller social or business functions, Courtyard Jefferson City offers a boardroom that accommodates 10 people and a collaboration room that holds six to 10 people.
“We have a complimentary Wi-Fi PowerPoint space and 80-inch television monitors that can be accessed for PowerPoint presentations or Zoom meetings, all with the touch of a button,” Michele adds. “That has been popular, especially in the time of COVID-19, so people can do hybrid meetings with some people in seats and some people on Zoom.”
Executive Chef Dennis Bahm works closely with the hotel’s events team to prepare a menu that suits the unique needs of each group. Whether the event calls for a hot breakfast of eggs, pancakes, bacon, and sausage or a cold lunch of sandwiches and salads, Michele says guests are “in good hands” with Dennis.
The Marriott property, which is locally owned by majority partner Mark Randolph, has also made it a priority to be a strong community partner. Through several sponsorships and partnerships, the hotel works to make a positive impact on the community it serves.
“We as a hotel, and as partners of our community, are very focused on our youth, and we strongly support education and youth programs,” Michele says. “We partner with Lincoln University and have started an internship program so students can get a taste of every aspect of the hotel, and we’ve been a big supporter of Boy Scouts of America.”
Courtyard Jefferson City also supports the Jefferson City Public Schools Foundation, the local 4-H Club, and other organizations around Jefferson City. While the building honors a memorable piece of Jefferson City’s history, Courtyard’s leadership and staff will always be supporters of their community and look forward to many future opportunities.
“We have a complimentary Wi-Fi PowerPoint space and 80-inch television monitors that can be accessed for PowerPoint presentations or Zoom meetings, all with the touch of a button.”
— Michele Braun
