Marriott Jackson....Meetings and Magnolias
Written: Jun 14 '08 (Updated Jun 14 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Excellent downtown location, freshly redecorated rooms, nice executive lounge, friendly staff
Cons: Fairly uninteresting 1970's building, lobby and dining rooms need windows
The Bottom Line: The Marriott Jackson is exemplary of just about everything Marriott stands for. Don't go hunting for surprises.
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| tombarnes's Full Review: Marriott Jackson, MS |
The Marriott Jackson began its life in 1975 as the Holiday Inn Downtown. Later renovations changed the premises into a Crowne Plaza, but the property was essentially unchanged until the Columbia-Sussex Corp. bought the hotel in 2004 and closed it for renovations. renovations throughout the property brought it up to the standards of the day. The total number of rooms was reduced from 359 to 303. The addition of another 300 rooms was an option under discussion at the time, but this has not yet come to fruition. Perhaps when the new convention center opens next year...Think of the hotel as a machine for business.
Lobby
The lobby, for all its size and impressive length, has few windows. Mostly, it's a long room with high ceilings and gargantuan brass chandeliers. The floors of vermilion marble glisten like pathways fashioned from smoked salmon. Two prominent escalators will whisk you up to the second floor ballrooms for meetings. This was built as a convention hotel and continues in this purpose today.
Registration took no more than a minute and I was soon off to my room. The elevators are showing their age, but the hallways have been freshened recently.
Rooms
My room, 1126 (actually the 19th floor) faced the east, giving me a view of the old and new capitol buildings. I might have wanted to face west, but this is still a great view. Jackson is still graced with a number of leafy parks and the abundance of greenery is pleasing to the eye.
There was nothing especially remarkable about the room- standard Marriott all the way. That's not to say that there is really anything wrong with the comforts of a Marriott bedroom. Everything worked well and the bed was especially comfortable- plenty of pillows and a good mattress here. Navy blue carpet, striped cream wallpaper...those prints of flowers in gold frames on the walls. The desk was equipped with a decent chair (If I had had to work in the room, this might have made a difference). Plenty of outlets for the computer I hadn't brought along...
Bath
Small, but decently fitted out with a pile of towels and the usual Marriott bath goodies, the bathroom had been slightly dressed up with a granite counter. Otherwise, it looked much like any other hotel bathroom.
Dining
I cannot pretend to offer much more than cursory advice as I failed to visit the dining room even once during my two night stay. The windowless dining room and bar are at the far end of the lobby. Its name, the Bristol, comes from the hotel's days of management under the Bristol Management Company. I thought about having lunch there, but my schedule was tight, so I didn't bother. There were the usual sort of sandwiches and pasta in the range of $10.00- $15.00. Dinner is considerably more expensive, but I went outside to dine.
Club Lounge
The top floor features what must have once been a suite which has been transformed into the club lounge. While not too remarkable, it was a comfort to be able to have a light breakfast or evening drinks here. The bar is set up on an honor system with a fairly good selection of bottles. The room was usually filled with business people hunched over their laptop computers or trading war stories.
Pool
The pool is on the first floor- actually the eighth. It's outside, so don't think that you will be able to visit during the winter. On the afternoon I took myself down there, though, it was in the upper 90s. A quick splash was the order of the day. From the pool deck there's also a good view of downtown Jackson, but don't think about having a party out here. The staff are vigilant in maintaining the place and it's locked up tight at 11:00 PM.
A fitness room adjoins the pool deck.
Business Center
There is a small business center on the lobby floor. I used it briefly to check my e-mail- about $7.95 for perhaps ten minutes of access. While this wasn't a great bargain, it is par for the course these days.
Getting There
While a couple of Web sites indicate that there is free airport transportation, this is definitely no longer the case. The trip to or from the Jackson-Evers International Airport will cost about $27.00 and generally takes about 20 minutes. The staff will arrange taxis for you without fail.
Cost
I paid a very low rate which had been negotiated with the hotel beforehand. The rack rate for the room I had was $189.00. Without too much difficulty, lower rates can usually be had here. Expect to pay perhaps $150.00 or so. Rates for meetings may be even lower. If in doubt, call ahead and ask away.
Service
The staff are quite friendly, but don't imagine that this is anything more than a decently run business hotel. It fills its purpose well. I was impressed with the offering of water bottles in a large bowl in the lobby. With the extreme heat, this was surely welcome. The hospitality offered throughout was genuine enough.
Marriott Jackson
200 Amite Street
Jackson, Mississippi
Tel. 601-969-5100
FAX 601- 353-4333
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
tombarnes
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 - Top 200 |
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Member: Thomas Barnes
Location: Fort Lauderdale & Washington, DC
Reviews written: 688
Trusted by: 444 members
About Me:
With Barbara in Miami, 2004
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