Which voice would you prefer to hear first thing in the morning - Elvis Presley, Austin Powers, Marilyn Monroe or Mr.
T? Wake-up calls from celebrity impersonators are just one of many unique touches guests will find at the Curtis, Denver's newest independent boutique hotel dedicated to pop culture. Denver-based Sage Hospitality Resources spent $30 million to convert the shuttered Executive Tower Inn at 1405 Curtis St.
into the contemporary Curtis. It opened last weekend with room rates starting at roughly $139. Each of the hotel's 16 floors has its own theme - the 15th floor is "Mad About Music," with a giant Elvis sculpture and framed concert posters lining the hallways.
The 11th floor celebrates "Chick Flicks." The gift store features jars of 5-cent candy and kitschy toys such as Betty Boop dolls. The hotel's alarm clocks are MP3 players shaped like Volks wagen Beetles.
The lobby music is hits from movies and TV shows. "The whole idea is that from the moment you step out of the cab, we're trying to bring back a memory that is going to put a smile on your face," said Tom Merges, general manager of the 336-room hotel. Walter Isenberg, president and chief executive of Sage Hospitality, said he plans to take the Curtis concept into other urban markets.
"We're very bullish that this hotel will perform well," he said. Sage Hospitality has 50 hotels in 21 states. The Curtis will employ about 200 people once fully staffed, said Merges.
It has $2.6 million of reservations on the books for 2007. By summer, the hotel will feature two restaurants, including the upscale Ocennaire Seafood Room chain, along with a Starbucks and an Olympic-size pool.
The Curtis enters the market at a strong time for local hotels, according to a report released Tuesday by Denver-based Horwath Horizon Hospitality Advisors. The Curtis will employ about 200 people once fully staffed and already has $2.6 million in 2007 reservations.
(Post / John Leyba)
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