Autograph Collection is an American group of independent upper-upscale to luxury hotels within the Marriott International portfolio. The properties are independently owned and operated under the Autograph Collection name.
Contents
History
To grow in the post-2008 economic downturn, Marriott, known for its rigid uniformity, was willing to relax this stipulation to draw independent unique hotels to its network of franchised properties. In 2010, Marriott approached Richard Kessler, an independent hotelier and former CEO of Days Inn, to incorporate the seven Kessler boutique properties into its system, under a yet unnamed new brand.
In 2006, Kessler had dropped the Westin brand affiliation from his downtown Orlando hotel to operate independently. Initially reluctant, Kessler came to an acceptable arrangement. The hotels would operate autonomously, keeping their names and identities. The Autograph Collection launched that year, with the Kessler properties forming the bulk of the hotel inventory.
The new name highlighted not a brand, but a collection of hotels. The Leading Hotels of the World, targeting high-end customers looking for unique hotel experiences, had long dominated this market.
Over time, the growth emphasis shifted from adding existing properties to proposals and new builds that incorporated the desired features.
Brand launches were Ascend by Choice (2008), Autograph by Marriott (2010), Curio by Hilton (2014), Best Western Premier (2014), Unbound by Hyatt (2016), and Trademark by Wyndham (2017). Marriott continues to promote growth in its three soft brands, The Luxury Collection, Tribute Portfolio, and Autograph.
In January 2017, Autograph began the Independent Film Initiative at the Sundance Film Festival with the Autograph Collection Hotels & The Black List Sundance Social Space. The Annual Black List is a list of screenplays that require financing. Autograph has its own indie film channel for hotel guests.
The Autograph Collection comprises a portfolio of 4- and 5-star properties.
Accommodations
Properties
As of June 30, 2020, the Autograph Collection consisted of 199 hotels in over 32 countries, with another 95 hotels with 16,941 rooms in its pipeline.
Canada
The Algonquin Resort St. Andrews By-The-Sea, St Andrews, NB
Humaniti, Montreal, QC
Hotel Saskatchewan, Regina, SK
The Douglas, Vancouver BC
Curaçao
The Pyrmont, Willemstad Curaçao
Germany
Hotel am Steinplatz in Berlin
The Falkenstein Grand in Königstein im Taunus
The Hotel Atlantic in Hamburg
Villa Rothschild in Königstein im Taunus
Hotel Luc in Berlin
Ireland
Mount Juliet Estate in Kilkenny
Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin
The Powerscourt Hotel in Wicklow
Japan
The Prince Sakura Tower in Tokyo
The Osaka Station Hotel in Osaka
Mexico
The Royalton Splash in Cancún
South Korea
The Plaza Seoul in Seoul
United Kingdom
The Glasshouse in Edinburgh
The Threadneedles Hotel in London
The University Arms Hotel in Cambridge
United States
The Adolphus Hotel in Dallas, Texas,
The Algonquin Hotel Times Square in Manhattan, New York City, New York
The Arrowhead Springs Hotel and Spa in Lake Arrowhead, California
The Hotel Blackhawk in Davenport, Iowa
The Blackstone Hotel in Chicago, Illinois
The Brown Palace Hotel in Denver, Colorado
Hotel Carmichael in Carmel, Indiana
The Casa Monica Hotel in St. Augustine, Florida
The Castle Hotel in Orlando, Florida
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada
The Cloudveil in Jackson, Wyoming
The Current Iowa in Davenport, Iowa
The Historic Davenport in Spokane, Washington
The Daytona in Daytona Beach, Fl.
The Draftsman in Charlottesville, Virginia
The Hotel Drover in Fort Worth, Texas
The Hotel Duval in Tallahassee, Florida
The Éilan Hotel & Spa in San Antonio, Texas,
The Fenway Hotel in Dunedin, Florida
Vietnam
The Vinpearl Landmark 81 in Ho Chi Minh City