HOUSTON— An icon of Houston’s flourishing oil industry and the city’s first air-conditioned office building, the historic Humble Oil Building has been reborn with the recent opening of a 191-room Courtyard by Marriott and 171-suite Residence Inn by Marriott. The building, originally the headquarters of Humble Oil and Refining Company (now ExxonMobil Corp.) and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a complex of three phased-in structures. The original 1921 structure is a nine-story, I-shaped building that now houses the Courtyard hotel. The next phase, a 17-story tower completed in 1936, is now Humble Tower; and the 1940 building is home to the new Residence Inn. According to Marriott executives, the hotels fill a void for much needed hotel rooms in the downtown area, particularly for extended stay guestrooms with the Residence Inn property. “People who need to be here for more than a few days, for either special projects, training or relocation, now have an extended-stay option with all the trappings of home,” said Paula Blackwell, gm of the Residence Inn. And for business travelers and weekend tourists looking for a “moderately-priced option in the heart of downtown,” the Courtyard is now open for business, noted John Parker, gm of the Courtyard by Marriott. Andrew Davis, area director of sales for both hotels, said feedback on the new Houston properties has been very positive. “Prospective clients and customers have really opened their arms to us. Beyond filling two needed downtown lodging niches, people are thrilled with the preserved look and feel. It’s very exciting for Marriott to be part of this part of the city.” The new Courtyard and Residence Inn are downtown Houston’s first Marriott-branded hotels. During the readaptation, the Humble Oil Building’s original rose marble, ornately designed bronze elevators and neoclassical architecture were preserved. There are six meeting rooms between the two hotels, including the Humble Suite, originally the Humble Executive Board Room, with its 25-foot domed ceiling and signature grand marble fireplace. Occupying part of the 6,000-square-foot street-level commercial retail space is The Humble Café, a casual dining restaurant operated by Courtyard. Unique among other Courtyards, The Humble Café, open seven days a week to guests and the public for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and featuring New American Cuisine, also provides room service to both hotels and Humble Tower. The Residence Inn was designed as all-suite hotel with studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites. Designed for longer stays, each suite has a fully equipped kitchen with coffee maker, microwave oven, full-sized appliances and a large work desk with high-speed Internet access. The hotel offers daily housekeeping, complimentary grocery shopping services and complimentary weekday social hour. Other hotel features and services include an outdoor swimming pool shared with Courtyard, an exercise room, weeknight social hours and faxing/copying/printing. All suites have a hair dryer, iron with ironing board, and cable television with free premium movie channels. The Courtyard’s 191 guestrooms feature either a king-size bed or two double beds, a seating area with sofa bed or oversized chair, a large, well-lit work desk, high-speed Internet access, and two telephones equipped with data ports. Other in-room amenities include coffee maker, hair dryer, iron with ironing board, and cable television with free premium movie channels. The property also features 10 suites with a king-size bed, refrigerator and microwave oven, and one king-size suite with a whirlpool spa.
