Marcus Hotels Press > Press Coverage

05.14.13

The Pfister® Hotel Creates High-Tech Boardroom On 23rd Floor


 

The historic Pfister® Hotel in downtown Milwaukee, which is owned and managed by Marcus® Hotels & Resorts, has completed renovations on a brand-new, high-tech executive boardroom, which offers expansive views of the city skyline and Lake Michigan from its 23rd floor location.

“This creative and dynamic boardroom offers guests revolutionary technology—the first meeting space of its kind in Milwaukee—allowing for interactive and engaging presentations, ” said Chris Anderson, senior vice president of sales, marketing and brand development for Marcus Hotels & Resorts.

The Pfister Hotel’s aptly named 23rd floor executive boardroom, Twenty 3, has moved approximately 50 feet down the foyer and was reconstructed to accommodate the new Pfister Club Lounge, an exclusive space for overnight guests, which opened last month. The upscale boardroom now incorporates unmatched presentation technology, including 3-D, gesture recognition, immersive technology and mapping capabilities.

The hotel’s team of onsite technology experts will work with meeting planners and presenters to turn their videos, graphs, PowerPoint and Keynote files into powerful, interactive presentations displayed on two 65-inch, side-by-side monitors. Gesture recognition technology enables presenters to use their hands as a mouse, wirelessly controlling presentations by swiping the air to change slides, and using finger motions to play video and move objects on screen. Theater-quality surround sound provides the audio component for high-impact, engaging presentations.

“Business is won in presentation,” added Anderson. “Presentation technology is evolving quickly and today’s top executives need presentations to be as engaging and clever as the message and product that’s being delivered. The Pfister Hotel’s new boardroom offers endless possibilities and the unique technology presenters need to stand out and be heard.”

The conference room addition will be followed by a renovation of the hotel’s 176 tower guest rooms, which is slated to begin in fall 2013. For more information on the latest news and updates from Marcus Hotels & Resorts, please visit: https://media.marcushotels.com.

About The Pfister Hotel Built in 1893, The Pfister Hotel has been the premier downtown Milwaukee hotel for more than a century, and continues to celebrate a tradition of gracious service and impeccable style; 2013 will mark the hotel’s 120th year as an icon in Milwaukee. The Pfister Hotel was purchased in 1962 by Ben Marcus, who vowed to renovate the distinguished hotel to its original beauty. Significant renovations were completed and a new 23-story guest room tower was built. In fall 2012, The Marcus Corporation celebrated its 50th year of ownership of the property.

Home to the largest collection of Victorian art of any hotel in the world, The Pfister is a AAA Four-Diamond property with membership in two of the industry’s leading organizations: Historic Hotels of America and Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. The Pfister Hotel is located at 424 E. Wisconsin Ave. in downtown Milwaukee. More information and updates on the hotel can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thePfisterHotel and on Twitter (@PfisterHotel).

About Marcus Hotels & Resorts Marcus Hotels & Resorts, a division of The Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS), owns and/or manages 20 hotels, resorts and other properties in 11 states. A force in the hospitality industry, Marcus Hotels & Resorts provides expertise in management, development and historical renovations. The company’s portfolio includes a wide variety of properties including city-center meeting hotels, upscale resorts and branded first-class hotels. For more information, please visit www.marcushotels.com and follow the company on Facebook and Twitter (@MarcusHotels).

05.14.13

The Great Outdoors – Patios, terraces and rooftops provide distinct dining spaces for customers, and add revenue for operators.


Patrons love to linger over brunch, appetizers and drinks on a restaurant’s patio, and operators welcome the extra income they capture through outdoor dining spaces. Whether opening up a large patio or balcony for the season or squeezing a few tables and chairs out on a sidewalk on sunny days, restaurants can carve out a variety of al fresco spaces to delight guests.

Art Jackson, co-chef/owner with wife Chelsea of Pleasant House Bakery in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood, created a garden patio adjacent to his restaurant that features a variety of edible and nonedible plants, comfy picnic tables, a shaded canopy and an outdoor prep area with a poured- concrete countertop. “It’s really a lovely outdoor space with a nice high fence,” Jackson says. “We like to think of it as a little oasis in an otherwise hectic part of the city.”

Mason Street Grill in Milwaukee also is located in an urban setting, and competes with nearby restaurants that have patios. “We try to be a little nicer, with plants that partition our patio from the street and people walking by to create seclusion,” says Edward Carrella, general manager. “The key with a patio is it has to be desirable for people to want to sit there, given that there are cars going by.

“The patio has a big impact on our revenue, though, bringing in an extra $40,000 to $50,000 a year. Even a smaller patio can make a difference in revenue.”
To read the rest of this article and download the full release PDF: [wpdm_file id=26]

05.13.13

Miller Time Pub & Grill to open at The Cornhusker Marriott in August


May 3, 2013 | View original article on JournalStar.com

Marcus Hotels & Resorts, which owns The Cornhusker Marriott, said it will open its Miller Time Pub & Grill at the hotel in August.

Marcus Hotels & Resorts refreshed and reintroduced the collaboration with Miller Coors this week at the restaurant’s original location in the Hilton Milwaukee in Milwaukee.

Lincoln will be the second site for the Miller Time Pub & Grill. Additional locations for the new Miller Time Pub & Grill concept are being considered, the company said.

The Cornhusker Marriott is undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation since Marcus acquired it last year. Renovation of the Miller Time Pub & Grill space, now occupied by The Terrace Grill at the hotel in Lincoln, will begin in June.

Marcus’ idea behind the Miller Time Pub & Grill is “creating a comfortable, neighborhood social spot while paying homage to its beer-inspired roots.”

“To enhance the dining experience, the restaurant, in partnership with world-class brewer MillerCoors, offers more than 25 draft options and over 50 brands of beers in a variety of growlers, yards or flights,” Marcus said in a news release. “Changes to service include staffed certified cicerones (beer experts) who are trained and tested on their beer knowledge, and available to help guests find perfect beer pairings for every menu selection”

The menu features specially crafted burgers, along with lighter, healthier salads, hearty entrees including crab cakes, fish, chicken, steak and a selection of desserts.

The grill will feature MillerCoors decor, including a collection of memorabilia and artifacts, photos and vintage ads, as well as a retail area.

05.13.13

New concept for Miller Time Pub & Grill


May 2, 2013 | View original article on OnMilwaukee.com

Miller Time Pub & Grill will have a new concept that will offer “a comfortable, neighborhood social spot while paying homage to its beer-inspired roots.”

The core of the concept is to pair beer and food. Certified cicerones (beer experts) will be available to help guests find perfect beer pairings for every menu selection.

The expanded menu features a variety of specially crafted burgers, along with lighter salads, hearty entrees including crab cakes, fish, chicken, steak and a selection of desserts.

The restaurant, in partnership with brewer MillerCoors, offers more than 25 draft options and over 50 brands of beers in a variety of growlers, yards or flights. Miller Time Pub & Grill also offers a beer of the month, happy-hour drafts, beer dinners and beer flights.

“The enhanced Miller Time Pub & Grill concept is about making memories in a comfortable, neighborhood restaurant with great food and great beer – all at a great price,” said Chris Anderson, senior vice president, sales, marketing and brand development for Marcus Hotels & Resorts.

The new concept will feature MillerCoors décor, including a collection of memorabilia and artifacts, photos and vintage ads, as well as a retail area. The restaurant also features a High Life Lounge area with seating for group gatherings and a variety of live entertainment.

Marcus Hotels & Resorts revealed the new Miller Time Pub & Grill concept at the restaurant’s original location at the Hilton Milwaukee. The company plans to open its second restaurant location at The Cornhusker, A Marriott Hotel in Lincoln, Neb., in August.

05.13.13

Miller Time Pub & Grill to open at The Cornhusker Marriott in August


Marcus Hotels & Resorts, which owns The Cornhusker Marriott, said it will open its Miller Time Pub & Grill at the hotel in August.

Marcus Hotels & Resorts refreshed and reintroduced the collaboration with Miller Coors this week at the restaurant’s original location in the Hilton Milwaukee in Milwaukee.

Lincoln will be the second site for the Miller Time Pub & Grill. Additional locations for the new Miller Time Pub & Grill concept are being considered, the company said.

The Cornhusker Marriott is undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation since Marcus acquired it last year. Renovation of the Miller Time Pub & Grill space, now occupied by The Terrace Grill at the hotel in Lincoln, will begin in June.

Marcus’ idea behind the Miller Time Pub & Grill is “creating a comfortable, neighborhood social spot while paying homage to its beer-inspired roots.”

“To enhance the dining experience, the restaurant, in partnership with world-class brewer MillerCoors, offers more than 25 draft options and over 50 brands of beers in a variety of growlers, yards or flights,” Marcus said in a news release. “Changes to service include staffed certified cicerones (beer experts) who are trained and tested on their beer knowledge, and available to help guests find perfect beer pairings for every menu selection”

The menu features specially crafted burgers, along with lighter, healthier salads, hearty entrees including crab cakes, fish, chicken, steak and a selection of desserts.

The grill will feature MillerCoors decor, including a collection of memorabilia and artifacts, photos and vintage ads, as well as a retail area.

View original article on JournalStar.com

05.13.13

New concept for Miller Time Pub & Grill


Miller Time Pub & Grill will have a new concept that will offer “a comfortable, neighborhood social spot while paying homage to its beer-inspired roots.”

The core of the concept is to pair beer and food. Certified cicerones (beer experts) will be available to help guests find perfect beer pairings for every menu selection.

The expanded menu features a variety of specially crafted burgers, along with lighter salads, hearty entrees including crab cakes, fish, chicken, steak and a selection of desserts.

The restaurant, in partnership with brewer MillerCoors, offers more than 25 draft options and over 50 brands of beers in a variety of growlers, yards or flights. Miller Time Pub & Grill also offers a beer of the month, happy-hour drafts, beer dinners and beer flights.

“The enhanced Miller Time Pub & Grill concept is about making memories in a comfortable, neighborhood restaurant with great food and great beer – all at a great price,” said Chris Anderson, senior vice president, sales, marketing and brand development for Marcus Hotels & Resorts.

The new concept will feature MillerCoors décor, including a collection of memorabilia and artifacts, photos and vintage ads, as well as a retail area. The restaurant also features a High Life Lounge area with seating for group gatherings and a variety of live entertainment.

Marcus Hotels & Resorts revealed the new Miller Time Pub & Grill concept at the restaurant’s original location at the Hilton Milwaukee. The company plans to open its second restaurant location at The Cornhusker, A Marriott Hotel in Lincoln, Neb., in August.

View original article on OnMilwaukee.com

05.13.13

The Weekly Nibble: Miller Time Pub and Grill Holds Grand Reopening Bash


Original Article by OnMilwaukee.com

Even if you’re paying close attention, it’s sometimes difficult to keep up with the latest in food news here in Milwaukee. So here’s a taste of what’s new and notable – with news from the newly rebranded Miller Time Pub and Grill, Grand Geneva Resort, Eddie Martini’s, Le Reve and Bolzano Artisan Meats.

Miller Time Pub gets a make-over
Downtown Milwaukee’s Miller Time Pub and Grill will host a grand reopening event on Thursday, May 16 from 5:30 to 10 p.m. to introduce its new concept to the public.

The free block party will take place on 5th Avenue between Michigan and Wisconsin Avenues. Guests will enjoy live music throughout the evening, along with complimentary food and beer samples between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. The event will also feature a free build-your-own burger bar where attendees are encouraged to build a customized burger, name it, and submit it to Miller Time Pub and Grill for a chance to see it featured on the restaurant’s menu as the “Grand Reopening Burger.”

The new Miller Time Pub and Grill will sport a new emphasis on creating perfect food and beer pairings, led by certified cicerones, who are trained to assist patrons to find the perfect beer to go with every item on the menu, which was designed by Chef Anthony Lemens.

For example, you might be inclined to try the Fire burger, topped with buffalo sauce and pepper-smoked bacon with a rich, malty glass of Batch 19. Or how about a Leinenkugel’s Red Lager with a horseradish steak burger topped with Wisconsin cheese. The menu offers up 17 delectable burgers, as well as soups, salads, appetizers, entrees and desserts. At least 23 beers will be offered on tap at all times.

“While guests will enjoy a great menu, updated layout, and new furnishings, we think they’ll also appreciate our continued focus on beer and the storied history of MillerCoors,” says Chris Anderson, senior VP of sales, marketing and brand development for Marcus Hotels and Resorts.

In keeping with this sentiment, the newly renovated restaurant features MillerCoors memorabilia, photos and vintage ads, new booths and tables, along with a comfortable loft area with leather furniture. A retail area is also available where guests can purchase Miller Time Pub and Grill merchandise and Miller memorabilia.

Grand Geneva Resort hosts Michele Chiarlo Wine Dinner
The AAA Four-Diamond Grand Geneva Resort and Spa, owned and managed by Marcus Hotels and Resorts, is pleased to welcome Michele Chiarlo Wines for a special dinner event at the elegant Ristoranté Brissago. On Thursday, May 16, guests to the restaurant are invited to experience a classic five-course Italian meal featuring paired varietals from the vineyard’s wine portfolio.

As part of this special dinner event, guests will begin their evening at 5:30 p.m. with a reception of passed hors d’oeuvres paired with Michele Chiarlo Arneis Le Madri. Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m., featuring an array of freshly prepared dishes from Executive Chef Michael Sawin. Tickets for the event are $75 per person, including wine pairings. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (262) 249-4788. Dinner guests who would like to extend their visit to the Grand Geneva can enjoy a special rate of $119 for overnight accommodations on Thursday, May 16.

Speaking of wine
Head over to Eddie Martini’s, 8612 W. Watertown Plank Rd., on select Friday evenings this summer from 6 to 8 p.m. to enjoy wines paired with small bites from their kitchen. A minimum of five wines will be featured each week. The schedule is as follows:

  • May 24: Wine 101
  • June 7: Rose’
  • June 28: California
  • July 19: Oregon
  • Aug. 7: New Zealand/Australia
  • Aug. 30: Wine 102

The cost is $35 per person, all inclusive. Reservations are required, as seating is limited. Make reservations by calling (414) 771-6680.

Get out of your shell
Mark your calendar for Friday, May 24 to indulge in the special prix fixe menu at Le Rêve Patisserie & Café for National Escargot Day.

Selections include truffle snails: marinated shrimp, truffle escargot, spring peas, morel mushrooms, spring ramps and fava beans ($13); wild Burgundy snails: roasted bone marrow, anise-poached escargot, chanterelle mushrooms and frisee with citrus gremolata ($14); and helix snails: grilled lamb, roasted asparagus, red wine poached helix snails and tarragon salsa verde ($24).

The Escargot Day menu will be available after 5 p.m. alongside La Reve’s regular dinner menu. Order all three courses for $45 or order them individually; it’s your choice.

Bolzano releases new salami
Bolzano Artisan Meats has added yet another heirloom pork salami to its repertoire. The name of the new product, “Pitzotl,” comes from the Aztec’s word for “Pig” and is a tribute to the flavors native to Mexico and central Americam explain owners and charcuterie experts Scott Buer and Christin Johnstone-Buer.

Using cocoa and chiles, along with a blend of Berkshire, Red Wattle, and Hereford pork. Like the rest of the company’s salamis, the new “Pitzotl” takes an entire month to make, without shortcuts or chemicals.

Bolzano products, including Pitzotl salami, are available at over 100 stores and restaurants across Wisconsin, and available online at bolzanomeats.com.

05.13.13

Remodeled Miller Time Pub having a street party on Thursday


Original Article by JSOnline.com

With a recent renovation, new menu and expanded draft beers, Miller Time Pub & Grill in the Hilton Milwaukee City Center will have a block party on Thursday to kick them off officially.

The event will take place from 5:30 to 10 p.m. on N. 5th St. between W. Wisconsin Ave. and W. Michigan St.

Food and beer samples will be available until 7:30, and a band will play from 8:30 to 10. Guests can sample and vote for the house beer that will be on tap, and submit their idea for a burger for the menu, built from a free build-your-own-burger bar.

The pub now has 20-plus beers on tap — some from under the MillerCoors umbrella, such as Leinenkugel Big Eddy beers and Blue Moon, as well as some imports and some from Milwaukee craft brewer Lakefront. The pub has more beers by the bottle, including craft beers from Lagunitas, Bell’s and others.  Miller Time now has a certified cicerone, or beer expert, on staff.

The new menu, by chef Anthony Lemens, specializes in burgers ($10 to $14), with toppings like pimiento cheese or pork-rib burnt ends. It also has appetizers, such as crab cake sliders ($10), salads including grilled salmon with citrus dressing ($14), sandwiches including a brat with kraut ($9) and entrees such as ribs ($18).

The pub, remodeled in the Arts and Crafts style, has more vintage beer memorabilia and artifacts, new tables and booths, and a lounge area with leather furniture. It’s owned by Marcus Hotels & Resorts, which plans to open the Miller Time Pub concept at other Marcus properties in Wisconsin and elsewhere, including a Marriott hotel in Lincoln, Neb.

05.12.13

The Brute and The Highlands on WorldGolf.com


Chicago loves the Lake Geneva, Wisconsin area for golf and fun — you will too

by Mike Bailey

The Brute at Grand Geneva (Mike Bailey/TravelGolf)

LAKE GENEVA, Wis. – Although it’s closer to Milwaukee, the Lake Geneva area is known as Chicago’s playground. About an hour and a half north of the Windy City, Lake Geneva was founded by the Chicago’s wealthy families around 100 years ago, much of it happening around Chicago’s Fires.

Forty-five years ago, Playboy founder Hugh Hefner thought so much of the area that he built one of his famous Playboy Resorts, which is now Grand Geneva. And before that, the U.S. military even considered the site for the Air Force Academy.

All that aside, the fun centers around one of America’s most pristine lakes, and now offers 22 golf courses in the area, many of them exceptional. The area draws 90 percent of its business from Chicagoland, but it shouldn’t deter the rest of us from visiting.

My flight, in fact, was just $178 roundtrip from Houston. That’s from one United Airlines hub to another, so there are a ton of flights. I would think you could similar deals from time to time from Newark, San Francisco and Denver.

For those of us in Houston and other parts of Texas, this would be a welcome respite from our hot humid summers, which can extend into late October. And while springtime can be a little iffy – I got a real mix of weather this week – falls are spectacular in the Lake Geneva area. The color in the trees combined with the bright green turf and spring-fed clear water reflecting blue skies make for one of the most beautiful places on earth.

In the town of Lake Geneva, there are a host of good restaurants and bars with plenty else to do, including zip-lining and walking the lake path, which reveals the homes and mansions of many Chicago’s elite who built homes here.

The stars in my book, though, remain the golf courses. I really loved The Brute Course and The Highlands Course at Grand Geneva; Geneva National has three excellent tracks, including the much heralded Player Course. Across the lake in Fontana is the really beautiful Abbey Springs. Hawk’s View Golf Club not only has a terrific 18-hole championship course, but a really enjoyable par 3 track as well. And at Lake Lawn Resort in Delavan on Delavan Lake is the underrated Lake Lawn Golf Course. The course and the resort went through some financial trouble a couple of years ago, but new ownership has brought both back to new heights.

05.09.13

Business Journal Serving Greater Milwaukee: Miller Time Pub introduces new menu and concept


May 8, 2013 | Stacy Vogel Davis for the Business Journal Serving Greater Milwaukee

Miller Time Pub & Grill has a new chef, new menu and new design as it rebrands itself to focus even more on beer.

The pub in the Hilton Milwaukee City Center, 509 W. Wisconsin Ave., introduced the changes last week and will hold a grand reopening block party May 16. The Marcus Corp., owner of the downtown hotel and restaurant, plans to open a second Miller Time Pub at its new Cornhusker Marriott Hotel in Lincoln, Neb., in August and is considering other locations, according to a news release.

Chef Anthony Lemons, a Wisconsin native who has worked in pubs in England and Scotland, is now head chef. He has introduced a menu that focuses heavily on beer pairings, with a MillerCoors beer suggestion for each item. The menu is heavy on burgers but also includes salads, sandwiches and other entrees.

<br /><br /><br />The new decor at Miller Time Pub & Grill emphasizes its MillerCoors theme.</p><br /><br /><p>
The new decor at Miller Time Pub & Grill emphasizes its MillerCoors theme. To view the photo slideshow associated with this article, please visit the Business Journal’s website

The pub’s general manager has been trained as a cicerone, an official certification program for beer experts. The rest of the wait staff have received certified beer server status, the release said. The beer menu focuses not just on traditional Miller products but also on its imports and products from its craft brewing division, Tenth and Blake Beer Co.

The pub will hold a block party from 5:30 to 10 p.m. May 16 on Fifth Street between Michigan and Wisconsin avenues. The event includes free food and beer samples until 7:30 p.m. and a build-your-own burger bar. The band Uprising will play at 8:30 p.m.

One possibility for a new Miller Time Pub location is The Corners of Brookfield, the Von Maur-anchored retail and housing development Marcus has proposed in the town of Brookfield. Renderings of the project have included a Miller Time Pub, although the company hasn’t confirmed that it will be included in The Corners. Chris Anderson, spokesman for Marcus Hotels & Resorts, said the company hasn’t ruled out putting the pub in the development.

Stacy Vogel Davis covers banking, financial services and retail for The Business Journal. She also covers restaurant news through her Table Talk blog on The Business Journal website.