The Buffalo Marriott HARBORCENTER is making waves within the hotel group, and within the industry. The hotel has achieved top ranking among full-service Marriott hotels in North America, which is a significant undertaking for the 205-room hotel, owned by Terry and Kim Pegula and operated by Shaner Hotel Group. The reason for the top ranking? The hotel has scored significantly higher than the mean score of its 336 full-service Marriott flagship counterparts. The scoring was the result of high customer satisfaction.
“It was Kim Pegula’s instruction for us to offer the best of the best service to all of our guests every day,” said Huseyin Taran, general manager of the Buffalo Marriott HARBORCENTER. “Kim wanted our hotel to be the absolute best place to stay, and this ranking proves it true. Since opening last summer, we have consistently been in the top five of the Marriott rankings, which is a tribute to the talent and dedication of our staff.”
The impressive distinction was the result of a chain-wide survey that guests opted to take. A number of attributes factored into the equation, including arrival, hotel impression, staff interaction, room comfort and cleanliness, amenities, and restaurant/bar satisfaction. If you haven’t managed to make a trip to eat at Panorama on Seven, then you don’t know what you’re missing!
Highlighted by the Panorama on Seven restaurant and bar, the latest technology innovations, the new Marriott guest design specs, 6,000 square feet of event space, and premium views of lake Erie and downtown Buffalo, the Buffalo Marriott HARBORCENTER scored extremely high in each category.
“It was our goal to build the best hotel in Buffalo,” said Michael Gilbert, Buffalo Sabres vice president of administration and general manager of HARBORCENTER. “Our premium guest experience combines with the other elements of HARBORCENTER to consistently draw new people to downtown Buffalo’s Canalside district. This is a new district that is making a major impact on the city’s economy and helping to further the momentum of its resurgence.”
Buffalo Marriott HARBORCENTER also ranks number one on the local hotel charts, according to social media feedback gathered by Medallia. Medallia is a service system powered by guestVoice that tracks mentions and reviews on Booking.com, Expedia, Google+, Hotels.com, Trip Advisor, and Yelp.
Buffalo Marriott HARBORCENTER has been a great addition to Canalside. The opening of the hotel was considered the perfect storm, with so many other convenient amenities opening nearby, not to mention 716 Food and Sport, the shops, the gym and the skating rinks that all opened within the building. Once Hofbrauhaus opens across the street, and Explore and More Children’s Museum is built at the edge of the canal, the hotel will at the epicenter of waterfront hustle and bustle.
The only thing that Buffalo Marriott HARBORCENTER missed out on was the opportunity to create a rooftop patio for its restaurant, Panorama on Seven. The decision was squashed from the outset, which could have been a huge draw for the restaurant and for the hotel. Hopefully, one day, the mistake can be rectified. Until that time, HARBORCENTER will continue to be the the talk of the town when it comes to places to stay along the waterfront.
Lead image: Bill Wippert