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.
Probably College Station, TX. My hubby and I are both Aggies, and we haven’t been up to our old stomping grounds in a while!
I’d like to visit the Courtyard Anaheim Buena Park for our next trip to Knott’s Berry Farm and Disneyland!
I tweeted the giveaway: https://twitter.com/#!/jsbocock/status/194783300034891777
My parents live over 7 hours away, so I would love to use it to let them come visit me in Atlanta! OR, maybe to go on an impromptu trip to the beach down in Gulf Shores.
I also tweeted the link from @lcl730.
I’d love to stay at the one in Salt Lake City, which I’ll be passing through this summer. Or New York City.
I’d love to stay at the Oklahoma City Northwest location.
family74014 at gmail dot com
I tweeted twitter.com/Adriennevh/statuses/194818404325138432
I would stay anywhere far away from home, or heck even ten minutes from home at this point. Just somewhere quiet and clean.
Port of Spain, Trinidad because I love the Caribbean!
I’d like to stay at Courtyard Ventura Simi Valley. My SIL and her family live in Ventura….and we’d love to visit them!
Oh, I tweeted too. And then noticed that the contest says US properties, so I’d have to pick Dupont Circle in Washington DC if I can’t go to Trinidad!
I’d like to stay at the Courtyard Hutchinson Island Oceanside/Jensen Beach because I could really use a beach vaca right now!!!
It would be hard to decide, but I’d go with the renovated Marriott in Boston. One of my best girlfriends just had a baby and I’d love to be able to visit without invading their small space. Thank you for hosting!
San Diego Marriott would be great, so much to do!
I tweeted as well
Courtyard Nashville TN, Brentwood
This summer we are doing a college visit road trip vacation with our son. Nashville is our second stop on the trip and we would LOVE to stay here!!
Courtyard Pittsburgh Monroeville is nearby
thepryfamily@gmail.com
https://twitter.com/#!/thepryfamily2/status/194887270866755584
thepryfamily@gmail.com
I’d like to stay at the courtyard-new-york-manhattan-soho
tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/lilj427/status/194902990753243136
I’d love to visit the renovated Courtyard in New York Manhattan/SoHo for the obvious reasons… especially love the proximity to Washington Square.
I tweeted 4/24: https://twitter.com/#!/jfong1130/status/194953390353158144
I would like to visit Courtyard in San Diego because I like the Marriott and I’ve never been to SoCal.
I tweeted as well https://twitter.com/#!/Melissa_Arnott/status/194967776006381569
I’d like to visit Courtyard San Jose Cupertino, perfect for our summer trip.
https://twitter.com/#!/tcarolinep/status/195015141803311105
I’d like to visit Courtyard Palm Springs — for the weekend.
Newport News, VA
I tweeted “I entered to win a stay at a renovated Courtyard by Marriott @thevacationgals: http://bit.ly/marriottlobbies“
I would like to stay at the Courtyard in Lexington, KY to visit my brother and enjoy a day at the races!
I’ll take my family to stay at the Courtyard Washington Convention Center, so that we can explore our nation’s capital together! I really want to take the kids to The Smithsonian Museums!
Just tweeted @mamaontherun3!!
College Station TX
I want to visit the one in the Caribbean!!!… Why not? It sounds like fun!
I would LOVE to take my family to: Courtyard San Diego Old Town! Thank you for the opportunity!!
I tweeted!! @DesireeEaglin
What a great give away! We would LOVE to stay at the San Francisco Fishermans Warf location. What fun.
I tweeted! (toddlertrailjen)
We would check out the Courtyard Miami Beach Oceanfront location! We are planning on going on a mini vacation without the kiddos!
Charelston, SC has been on my list of places to go for awhile. I would love to stay at the Courtyard there in the historic district!
I tweeted again.
@lcl730
I’d like to stay at the courtyard-new-york-manhattan-soho
tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/lilj427/status/195219917467947008
I’d like to stay at the Courtyard Washington Convention Center b/c we are planning a family trip to DC to show the kids the monuments, White House, Supreme Court, etc. and this would be a perfect location!
I’d like to check out the Courtyard by Marriott in Orlando Lake Mary!
I’d like to check out the Courtyard Toronto Downtown. My husband is doing some work up there for 2 weeks and I’d love to visit him while he’s there
tweeted 4/25 https://twitter.com/#!/thepryfamily2/status/195309931925225475
thepryfamily@gmail.com
4/25 Courtyard Pittsburgh Monroeville
thepryfamily@gmail.com
I would like to visit Courtyard Anaheim…would love to see more of California!
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/Melissa_Arnott/status/195317135835283456
I would love to stay at the Courtyard in New Orleans near the French Quarter! New Orleans is absolutely one of my favorite cities and I LOVE the food there!
tweeted (4/25): https://twitter.com/#!/jfong1130/status/195333351954055169
I’d like to visit the Courtyard in New York Manhattan/SoHo. I’d love to go on a trip with my family and show them NYC. The kids are at a perfect age to appreciate the sights of Manhattan. Thanks!
I’d love to visit the Courtyard Atlanta Midtown/Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Georgia. It’s a great location and would love to travel to Georgia in May to visit friends
I tweeted for an additional entry. Thanks! http://twitter.com/#!/DeeGee13/status/195394833379106816
Newport News, VA
I tweeted as well!
https://twitter.com/#!/valnaas
id like to visit the nashville one. ill be attending school there in the fall and will always have family visiting and needing a place to stay!
tweeted! https://twitter.com/#!/cg689/status/195518478210445313
I’d stay at the Courtyard Orlando International Drive/Convention C because it’s close to DISNEY!
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/tcgirl11/status/195523230876966913
I would love to win this and stay at the Courtyard in Carolina Beach! One of my best friends that I’ve known since nursery school moved there 2 years ago because her husband is in the military and they just had a baby a couple months ago. I’ve never had the chance to visit her home down there. I would love to be able to visit to meet the newest addition to her family!
I would love to stay at the Courtyard in Glenwood Springs, CO, because my Mother and I are planning to travel out west this summer.
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/sanstan5/status/195542029802016768
I’d love to visit San Francisco and this would make it much more possible!
I think I’d like to stay at the courtyard-new-york-manhattan-soho
https://twitter.com/#!/lilj427/status/195557894803046402
I’d love to visit the Courtyard Key West Waterfront. The keys are someplace I’ve always wanted to visit
tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/jsbocock/status/195558299444318208
I have not been to D.C. since I was a kid and would love to see the sights again while staying at the Courtyard DuPont Circle or U.S. Capitol location.
I tweeted! @lcl730
I’d love to use this to stay at the Courtyard San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf. Planning a trip for me and my die-hard 49er fan husband to go this fall!
Wow, I would be up for going anywhere! I live in NY so would prefer outside of NY! Maybe Arizona, California,Colorado, Minnesota (to visit my sister), Georgia…the past 8 months has been really hard on my husband and I. we both are in th process of recuperating from major surgeries..both been out from work. He is at half pay and I am at no pay (no benefits at my job)…we surely could use a nice get away!
I want to visit the Miami Beach Oceanfront Courtyard! That view would be amazing
tweeted 4/26: https://twitter.com/#!/jfong1130/status/195565575106338816
College Station!
https://twitter.com/#!/thepryfamily2/status/195643740067602432
thepryfamily@gmail.com
4/26 Courtyard Pittsburgh Monroeville
thepryfamily@gmail.com
Courtyard Marriott Miami oceanfront! We are planning a trip without the kids and this looks like a nice location.
I miss having a place to stay in San Fransisco since my uncle moved – love it there and want to visit
We would head down to Miami and stay at the Courtyard Miami Beach Oceanfront!
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/195864088738398208
tweeted 4/27: https://twitter.com/#!/jfong1130/status/195899030071545857
the Courtyard Novato Marin/Sonoma! A wine trip weekend would be awesome!
I’d like to visit the Sacramento Folsom location-convenient for visiting family!
tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/jsbocock/status/195934203903361024
College STation, TX
I would like to stay at the courtyard-new-york-manhattan-soho
tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/lilj427/status/195965705424863232
I’d like to stay a couple of nights at the Courtyard Cleveland Independence in Cleveland. Its the closest location to a park where my friends and I go to photograph wood ducks.
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/LeesaWho/status/196017056099999744
I would like to visit Courtyard Manhattan…would love to see more of NY!
Tweeted..https://twitter.com/#!/Melissa_Arnott/status/196047092148482048
I stayed at a Courtyard by Marriott in December and did a giveaway for them as well. I liked the new lobbies and what they are doing. I think most of their redesign is good. In my review, I called it hostel meets hotel as they take the comforts of a hotel and try to make it social with their lobbies. I saw it work pretty well but I know some people miss the continental breakfasts.
I would love to stay at this on Va beach-
Courtyard > Hotel Courtyard Virginia Beach Oceanfront/North 37th Street
This would make for a nice couples getaway!
Thanks for the chance to win!
gina.m.maddox (AT) gmail (DOT) com
tweet-https://twitter.com/#!/CrazyItalian0/status/196195887154868224
gina.m.maddox (AT) gmail (DOT) com
I tweeted!
https://twitter.com/#!/valnaas
Carolina Beach, NC!