Over the past few years, Courtyard by Marriott hotels have steadily rolled out a brand-new lobby concept throughout the United States. The new look features modern and sleek (yet warm and inviting) decor, plenty of open space and comfortable seating; laptop friendly work stations and free wi-fi; The Bistro quick-serve breakfast, snacks and dinner menu; GoBoard touch screens for visitors to learn more about the local attractions, weather and transportation; and easy Boarding Pass printers.
The Courtyard Refreshing Business lobbies are indeed inviting, as I experienced last year during a stay in downtown Denver, one of the recently renovated locations. While business travelers certainly appreciate the new lobby services and amenities, as a mom, I think The Bistro is especially great for traveling with kids. Many of the menu items are healthy and kid friendly, plus they are prepared quickly: scrambled eggs, French toast or oatmeal in the morning, then burgers, pizza flatbreads, chicken wings and Caesar salads later in the day. Plus coffee, beer and cocktails!
As of today 500 Courtyard by Marriott lobbies throughout the United States have been totally refurbished with this new look. Over halfway done, Courtyard’s remaining 300 U.S. properties are projected to be completed in 2013. To celebrate the 500th renovation for Courtyard, the hotel brand has teamed up with The Vacation Gals to give away a $300 Courtyard by Marriott gift card to be used toward a stay at any renovated Courtyard property in the continental United States. To enter, just check out this list of renovated U.S. Courtyard properties and tell me in the comments where you’d like to stay!
Here are the details:
- Leave a comment below telling me which renovated Courtyard by Marriott property you’d like to visit and why.
- For another entry, Tweet the following, and then tell me you did in the comments (for a total of two comments daily maximum):
I entered to win a stay at a renovated Courtyard by Marriott @thevacationgals: http://bit.ly/marriottlobbies
- You may leave comments (again, up to two daily: one answering my question; one telling me you Tweeted) until 8 p.m. (Mountain Time) Tuesday, May 1, 2012.
- The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.
- We’ll do our best to weed out repeat entries from the same household (duplicate IP addresses in one day), but we’re not superhuman. Please, as an individual, just comment up to twice daily — don’t try to dupe the system.
- Immediate family members of The Vacation Gals are not eligible to enter.
- You must be 18 and have a U.S. mailing address to enter.
- We will enter the total number of comments into random.org to generate a winning comment numbers. Winners’ names and winning comment numbers will be announced at the bottom of this post May 2, 2012.
- If winner does not respond to two emails announcing his/her win within five days, another comment number will be chosen.
- Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary.
- The $300 gift card should cover two nights of accommodations at most U.S. locations (though depending on the time of year and the destination, winner may have to chip in for the balance, or use the gift card toward a one-night stay).
- Gift card expires August 23, 2012.
Good luck!
This contest for a gift card toward two free nights at a renovated Courtyard property in the continental U.S. was sponsored by Courtyard by Marriott. I will also receive a complimentary two-night stay at a renovated Courtyard property. Photos courtesy Courtyard by Marriott.
UPDATE: Congrats go out to commenter #112 Gina Maddox — she’s our winner, as her number came up via random draw at Random.org.
I would like to stay at the Courtyard Dallas Arlington South since I’m going to be going there for a football game this fall!
tweeted 4/28: https://twitter.com/#!/jfong1130/status/196271915332153344
I would love to stay at either of the NY hotels!
I would like to visit Courtyard in San Diego because I like the Marriott and I would like to visit SeaWorld.
Tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/Melissa_Arnott/status/196331683560173569
I’d like to stay at the Courtyard Orlando International Drive/Convention C because it’s close to DISNEY!!
4-28 Tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/tcgirl11/status/196416899142266880
Courtyard Pittsburgh Monroeville is nearby 4/28
thepryfamily@gmail.com
https://twitter.com/#!/thepryfamily2/status/196431973768642561
thepryfamily@gmail.com
I would like to stay at the Courtyard Bowling Green Convention Center, so I could visit my Aunt in Bowling Green.
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/sanstan5/status/196434897299181568
tweet-https://twitter.com/#!/CrazyItalian0/status/196560040893747200
Jacksonville Beach, Florida!
https://twitter.com/#!/valnaas
I tweeted as well!
I would like to visit Courtyard in San Diego because I like the Marriott and I would like to visit San Diego Zoo.
Tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/Melissa_Arnott/status/196615738625228801
We would check out the Courtyard Miami Oceanfront!
Visiting the Courtyard Phoenix Camelback sounds lovely-a quick getaway to the Phx area is always fun!
tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/jsbocock/status/196679938475175936
I’d like to stay at the Courtyard Orlando International Drive/Convention C because it’s close to DISNEY!!!
https://twitter.com/#!/tcgirl11/status/196699902879875072
Would love to stay in Palm Springs!
Courtyard Pittsburgh Monroeville is nearby
4/29
thepryfamily@gmail.com
https://twitter.com/#!/thepryfamily2/status/196736082258305026
thepryfamily@gmail.com
I’d love to stay in the Courtyard Ann Arbor since I went to Michigan for college and would love to go back for a football Saturday!
I tweeted 4/29: https://twitter.com/#!/jfong1130/status/196752870001999873
Washington Convention Center!
I also tweeted
I’d like to stay at the Courtyard Orlando International Drive/Convention C because it’s close to DISNEY!!!!
Today’s tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/tcgirl11/status/196915612671426560
I’d go to College Station for the weekend!
I want to stay at the Courtyard Palm Springs, we’re hoping to make a getaway trip out there soon!
tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/jsbocock/status/197006261521367042
Courtyard Pittsburgh Monroeville is nearby 4/30
thepryfamily@gmail.com
https://twitter.com/#!/thepryfamily2/status/197014977041793024
thepryfamily@gmail.com
Courtyard Atlanta Buckhead- its where I went to college and brings back old memories!
I tweeted on 4/30
https://twitter.com/#!/JoeyKuf1/status/197022011514556416
I would like to stay at the Courtyard Bowling Green Convention Center, so I could visit my Aunt in Bowling Green, KY.
I tweeted on 4/30 https://twitter.com/#!/sanstan5/status/197065503888523264
Courtyard Miami Beach Oceanfront!!
tweet-https://twitter.com/#!/CrazyItalian0/status/197101514664316928
gina.m.maddox (AT) gmail (DOT) com
VA beach oceanfront!
I would like to visit Courtyard in San Diego because I like the Marriott and I would like to visit the zoo.
Tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/Melissa_Arnott/status/197122101956714498
I would love to stay at the Courtyard San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf! San Francisco is one of my favorite cities and I haven’t been back in so long!
tweeted 4/30: https://twitter.com/#!/jfong1130/status/197150232469966849
Courtyard Bettendorf Quad Cities to see my sister!
https://twitter.com/#!/valnaas
I tweeted!
I’d like to stay at the Courtyard Orlando International Drive/Convention C because it’s close to DISNEY
Today’s Tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/tcgirl11/status/197283234227290112
We would check out the Courtyard Miami Beach Oceanfront on a little getaway without the kids!
I would love to use it to help friends or family come visit me in Atlanta! The Courtyard Cumberland Center would be so convenient for them.
I also tweeted! @lcl730
tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/jsbocock/status/197357893522178048
The Courtyard Carolina Beach seems like a fun place to visit
Would love to visit the Courtyard in San Diego- been dying to make it out west for a while!
tweeted as well!
https://twitter.com/#!/JoeyKuf1/status/197353581349834752
Courtyard Pittsburgh Monroeville is nearby 5/1
thepryfamily@gmail.com
https://twitter.com/#!/thepryfamily2/status/197417988058656770
thepryfamily@gmail.com
Somewhere in Texas – probably College Station!
tweet-https://twitter.com/#!/CrazyItalian0/status/197433293686317056
gina.m.maddox (AT) gmail (DOT) com
VA Beach Oceanfront for sure!!!
gina.m.maddox (AT) gmail (DOT) com
I’d like to visit either the Courtyard Austin South or Northwest.
I also tweeted re: the giveaway!