Marcus Hotels Press > Press Coverage
01.08.15 |
Pfister Hotel’s Blu Lounge Is Swank Yet Cheap
In my book, a new year should be met with big thinking and lofty goals. With that spirit in mind, I found myself atop the Pfister Hotel, the crown jewel of Milwaukee lodging, sipping sale price drinks at Blu Bar & Lounge, home to “Milwaukee’s highest happy hour.” This swanky spot 23 floors above ground is probably better known to out-of-towners than to locals, which is a damn shame. $3 bottles of local craft beer, $6 glasses of wine and $6 rail cocktails Monday through Friday from 5pm to 8pm would make for a solid happy hour anywhere. But Blu ain’t anywhere. It’s the crown of the Pfister tower and it features elegant decor, live music and excellent views of the city. Built in 1893, the Pfister has been a Milwaukee icon for over a century. Back in 1912 an unemployed saloonkeeper from New York tried to assassinate former president Teddy Roosevelt outside the Pfister. Roosevelt was campaigning as a third party candidate on the Progressive ticket. The 50-page speech in Roosevelt’s jacket pocket slowed the bullet, which drew blood but did not cancel his appearance at the Milwaukee Auditorium.
The Pfister is full of history. It has the largest collection of Victorian art in any hotel in the country. Yet it’s also connected to the present. After admiring the ornate vintage lobby make sure to check out the latest display by their Artist-in-Residence, whose studio sits across from the elevators up to Blu. Another option at the Pfister is people watching. It’s the go-to hotel for elite college and professional sports teams, touring musicians, dignitaries and the like. When I walked in the other night the Phoenix Suns (basketball team) gear was being unloaded in the lobby. A corporate meeting was taking place inside Blu when I arrived. You should not underestimate a complimentary bowl of mixed nuts. Considering most happy hours coincide with dinner hours, a free snack can go a long way. Sometimes Blu has a Japanese mix, sometimes it’s mostly almonds and peanuts. Occasionally there’s dried fruit. Either way, it’s on the house. They used to offer a variety of small plates, which featured the most delicious olive marinade I’ve ever had, anywhere. But for some bizarre reason these noshes weren’t a hit, so they’ve switched to just cheese and chocolate. When I sampled Blu’s happy hour my two favorite Milwaukee Brewing Co. creations, Louie’s Demise amber ale and Outboard cream ale, were the featured $3 bottles. I enjoyed a trio. If I was a person of means I might have indulged in their full selection of drinks, including an impressive list of martinis and craft cocktails. The Heat, a combination of Don Julio reposado tequila, Spanish licor 43, fresh lime, agave nectar, and jalapeño slice, would have been my first choice. The rest of their drink lineup is pretty conservative. In the beer department, $5 standard domestic bottles (Miller, Coors, Budweiser), $6 imports (Mexican and European), $6 craft (mostly Wisconsin), and $6 Spotted Cow and Sprecher Double IPA on draft. Eleven reds, ten whites, five “sparkling and sweet,” and four ports make up the grape-based portion of the menu, averaging $9-$17 per glass and $35-$77 per bottle. Dark liquors include 19 scotch selections plus 26 whiskeys and bourbons. A glass of Macallan 25 year old single malt scotch is their most expensive at $158. The remainder fall in the $10 to $60 range. Jazz is the preferred soundtrack at Blu. Any night of the week jazz will be playing on the speakers or emanating from live instruments. You can find the latter on weekends after 8pm and during the tail end of Tuesday happy hour. Also, on the first Thursday of each month pianist Dr. Jeffrey Hollander draws a crowd for his Rhapsodies in Blu series. If you build an appetite swigging cheap drinks upstairs a tasty meal is only an elevator ride back down to earth. My night took a turn for the interesting once I made my way to the Lobby Lounge, where Valerie was tending. May 12th will be her 40th anniversary at the Pfister. She started on the 23rd floor, back when it was known as the Crown Lounge. In those days female servers wore bow ties, short skirts and bunny ears. It was the Hugh Hefner model of the 1970s. A Joan Rivers show at the Crown cost just $5. The Lobby Lounge does not technically have a happy hour. However, a person plays the piano from 5pm to 8pm and 9pm to midnight 365 days of the year. It’s hard to put a price on that. During my visit downstairs I was lucky enough to be handed a sample of Valerie’s Holiday Glögg, a soul-warming blend of brandy, bourbon, red wine, cider, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, orange slices, and green and red apples. A Scandinavian man joined me in the tasting and noted the similarity to a seasonal drink back home. I settled in to sober up with a delicious pork belly grilled cheese sandwich with a side of tomato basil soup. Across from the Pfister on Wisconsin Avenue is an office building that houses the Wisconsin Athletic Club (WAC) downtown branch. I hold a membership to this chain of fitness centers, which have a relationship with the prestigious Milwaukee Athletic Club (MAC). Because the downtown WAC does not have a pool, my membership gives me reciprocity to the MAC. My discounted visits to the MAC remind me of the Blu happy hour, an extravagant downtown experience at a cut rate. High above our fine city you can find dive bar prices. Hey, it’s 2015. Anything is possible. |
01.05.15 |
VacationIdea.com
Best Affordable Weekend Getaways from Chicago Get away from Chicago for a weekend of relaxing at a spa, skiing, a game of golf, boutique shopping and museums. Many nearby hotels, resorts and inns offer affordable room rates and seasonal packages. Whether you are looking to relax on the beach, get pampered at a spa or go on a fun shopping trip, there is plenty to choose from within a few hours of Chicago. See more here.
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01.01.15 |
Meetings-Conventions.com
Destination Guides: Wisconsin By: Michael C. Lowe WHY HERE?Several Wisconsin destinations have news that will be of interest to meeting planners, including the opening of the $150 million Potawatami Hotel & Casino in Milwaukee and a $100 million revitalization of the 202-room Edgewater Hotel (above) in Madison. Good Taste See more here.
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01.01.15 |
Successful Meetings Magazine
Return on Relaxation: How to Link Golf and Spa to the Bottom Line By: Andrea Doyle The effectiveness of a meeting and its return on investment go hand in hand. As it becomes more important for meetings to demonstrate quantifiable results, the necessity has also extended to measuring the impact of an event’s activities – golf and spa included. While these have traditionally been viewed as the leisure side of meetings, increasingly, planners are finding ways to enhance their business value and view them through the lens of ROI. ….The 355-room Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, in Lake Geneva, WI, with a spa and two championship 18-hole golf courses, reports an increase in groups allowing more time for spa services — giving people more open afternoons to experience the property, rejuvenate, and relax. “Not only does a spa addition to a meeting add a health/wellness aspect, but it provides a more casual environ- ment where people feel comfortable and sets the tone to reconnect and re-energize,” says Jennifer Edwards, sales coordinator at Grand Geneva’s Well Spa.
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12.31.14 |
PeterGreenberg.com
Ring in 2015 With New Year’s Eve Deals By: Jessica May Tang Looking for some last-minute ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve? We rounded up some of the best celebrations and New Year’s Eve deals from around the country. Keep reading to find out how you can celebrate—and save. See more here.
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12.29.14 |
The Pfister® Hotel and InterContinental Milwaukee Receive Adrian Awards in Global Competition
Milwaukee, Wis., December 29, 2014. . . . . Marcus® Hotels & Resorts, a division of The Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS), today announced two of its owned Milwaukee, Wis. properties, The Pfister Hotel and InterContinental Milwaukee, have received a total of four Adrian Awards in the industry’s largest and most prestigious travel marketing competition. Presented by The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI), this year’s Adrian Award contest garnered more than 1,200 entries from around the world, with entries judged by top executives throughout the industry. The Pfister Hotel won a Gold Adrian Award for its Four Generations Wedding Story in the category of “Public Relations Single Item: Feature Placement Online-Consumer Media, ” and won for its placement in ABC News online/Good Morning America. The Four Generations Wedding Story chronicles one family’s wedding history with the Pfister Hotel, dating back to 1924. The hotel received a Bronze Adrian Award for its new website, www.thepfisterhotel.com, in the category of “Digital Marketing: Digital Single Item – Web Site.” The fully responsive site was created by Marcus Hotels & Resorts’ in-house marketing and web development teams. The website was designed to include impactful imagery, a modernized look and feel, and easy navigation for online reservations, amenities, dining options and guestroom features. The Pfister website also recently won a 2014 Mobile Web Award in the category of Best Hotel and Lodging Mobile Website. As previously announced, The Pfister Hotel also received a Silver Adrian Award in the category of “Public Relations Campaign: Marketing Program – Consumer” for its 120th Anniversary Marketing Campaign which included Emmy-nominated documentary, “The Pfister: History & Story” and international award-winning 283-page book, “The History, Art & Imagery of The Pfister Hotel.” The InterContinental Milwaukee won a Gold Adrian Award in the category “Public Relations Campaign: Community Service/Social Responsibility” for the Five Year Pink Room Community Partnership PR Campaign which included branding and collateral pieces, community relations, PR placements and total donations raised. In 2009, the InterContinental Milwaukee created two special guest rooms designed to build awareness, raise funds, offer support and foster hope for those fighting breast cancer. The hotel partnered with a local organization, ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis, in which a portion of the proceeds from each stay in the rooms was donated. Since the inception of the program, $50,000 has been donated to ABCD, and the Pink Room Project continues to receive national media recognition. Additionally, InterContinental Hotels Group took the concept system-wide and other hotels are following suit and creating similar programs around the world. HSMAI will pay tribute to these winning entries during the annual HSMAI Adrian Awards Gala, a black-tie affair attended by more than 1,000 hospitality, travel and tourism marketing executives at the New York Marriott Marquis on February 23, 2015. “We are honored to receive four Adrian Awards in this year’s competition,” said Christine Beuchert, senior director of marketing and e-commerce strategy for Marcus Hotels & Resorts. “Our goal is to create websites and marketing campaigns that provide a rich customer experience, through meaningful community initiatives, well-developed and interesting content and highly impactful visuals. Ensuring that the online experience fully expresses the brand and engages our customers at an emotional level will always be a priority for us. We are thrilled to be recognized for delivering on this goal.” “We are continually amazed by the creativity of the Adrian Award submissions,” said Fran Brasseux, HSMAI executive vice president. “We saw imaginative campaigns that got results in all categories, and we’re excited about honoring this year’s Adrian Award winners in February.” Visit www.AdrianAwards.com for more information on the event and competition. |
12.29.14 |
AmericanSpa.com
Sweet Spa Sensations By: Jennifer Nied White Christmas is one of my favorite classic holiday movies. It’s a sweet reminder of the simple joys of the season—singing, dancing, and snow. Each year I hope for a glistening snow fall to cover everything in white. This year I got my wish by traveling to the Rocky Mountains where I’m guaranteed a winter wonderland. Snow or not, spas are certainly serving up sweet treatments for spa-goers looking to curb cravings without the calories and indulge in some relaxation. Here are a few spas with inspiring treats on their menus this month: Well Spa at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa (WI) helps clients unwind with the Toasty Marshmallow Massage (starting at $120, 50 minutes). This decadent full body massage uses marshmallow shea butter with notes of tonka bean and sandalwood. For the face, spa-goers can opt for the Three Milks-a-Merry Winter Nourishment Facial ($130, 50 minutes), which hydrates and cleansers the complexion with a green-tea infused cleanser, coconut milk steaming compress, and peptide-rich botanical facial polish and moisturizer. Tips and toes get a sweet treat too with the Mint Chocolate Mistle-toes ($80, 50 minutes) and Manicure ($70, 50 minutes) complete with thick whole milk soak, sweet cream salt scrub, hot chocolate mask, and minty shea butter massage and paraffin dip. See more here.
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12.25.14 |
The Resorter
Ring in the New Year in style at Grand Geneva Resort Grand Geneva Resort & Spa invites both locals and out-of-town guests to join the property and ring in 2015. For a night of fun festivities, guests can make reservations to dine at one of the signature restaurants including Geneva ChopHouse and Ristorante Brissago, and enjoy a delicious New Year’s Eve prix-fixe menu.
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12.23.14 |
Hotel News Now: 5 Hotel Marketing Trends For 2015
5 Hotel Marketing Trends For 2015 By: Alicia Hoisington 2015 presents an opportunity to be a stellar year in the hotel marketing world, but only if hoteliers take advantage of the trends, according to speakers during a recent webinar. Christine Beuchert, senior director of marketing and ecommerce strategy at Marcus Hotels & Resorts, talks about the importance of content marketing, storytelling and other marketing trends for the coming year. Read more here.
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