Houston Marriott Westchase

With 43,000 square feet of function space and 534 guest rooms, the Houston Marriott Westchase bustles with conference delegates and other travelers with business in the nearby Energy Corridor. The spacious,10-story atrium, with tropical plants and lots of bright, open space, handles the steady influx of people well. There are plenty of comfortable places for small groups to gather and chat not only in the atrium but in the the foyers of the meeting area, which are decorated with intricately patterned carpeting and large glass chandeliers hanging from the recessed ceilings. The glass, pod-like elevators overlooking the atrium add a futuristic touch. This hotel is equipped for group check-ins, with a long front desk with several stations to help arriving guests. The restaurant and lounge adjoin the lobby, offering more cozy seating areas at the bar or on sofas and armchairs surrounding small oval tables. 

The Marriott is located in a busy area west of downtown Houston, right inside the Sam Houston Parkway that encircles the city. Its namesake, Westchase, is an affluent neighborhood whose center is about a five-minute drive from the hotel. Most downtown attractions are about a 25- to 35-minute drive, including Minute Maid Park, George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston Zoo, and the Museum District. With a bus stop about a one-minute walk from the hotel, it's possible to take a bus downtown, but travel time is at least one hour. Approximate drive times to other area attractions are: Memorial City Mall and Memorial Hermann Medical Center (16 minutes), Galleria (15 minutes), Bush Intercontinental Airport (40 to 45 minutes), Hobby Airport (35 to 40 minutes), NRG Stadium and the adjacent Astrodome (20 to 30 minutes), the University of Houston campus (25 to 30 minutes), and Rice University (20 to 25 minutes). The Energy Corridor is a 15-minute drive, and Halliburton Headquarters is about 10 minutes away. There are several restaurants within a five-minute walk of the hotel, and the hotel operates a free shuttle service within a three-mile radius. 

While decor is traditionally tasteful, guest rooms are not especially distinctive, and their matching reddish-brown wood furniture, including nightstands, desks, and dressers, is beginning to show nicks and wear. Wood frames upholstered black leather headboards. The blue-gray-tan patterned carpeting is dark. Walls are a light tan, and checkered butterscotch drapes, orange striped upholstered armchairs, and green-blue striped bed skirts look dated. Bathrooms feature large wood vanities topped with black granite and  shower/tub combos with curtains. All rooms include 32-inch flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, robes, various media plug-ins on the dresser’s side panel, free basic Wi-Fi, and wired Internet. High-speed Internet access is available for a fee. 

Standard rooms come with king or two queen beds, and measure about 252 square feet. One-Bedroom Suites are about twice that size (500 square feet) and include sleeper sofas, as do the slightly smaller (400 square feet) Junior King Suites. The Presidential Suite measures 700 square feet and has an additional half-bath. All suites and some standard rooms offer access to the concierge lounge, which serves a free hot breakfast buffet, midday snacks, evening hors d’oeuvres, and nonalcoholic beverages (wine and liquor comes with a fee). Be aware that rooms facing the interior atrium pick up noise from the lobby.

The Houston Marriott Westchase has a range of features that cater to business travelers and guests on the go. The full-service restaurant/lounge serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Note that breakfast is not included in room rates. A Starbucks that offers items for breakfast and lunch is also in the hotel. There is 43,000 square feet of meeting space; the ballroom can accommodate up to 1,725 people. The business center has two computer stations with Internet access and a printer. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. The 24-hour fitness center has a full range of cardio- and weight-training machines, along with free weights. The hotel features a heated, indoor/outdoor pool with whirlpools both inside and outside. Valet laundry and dry-cleaning services are provided, and self-serve laundry facilities are on site. Concierge services are offered. There is a gift shop in the lobby, an ATM, and a safe deposit box at the front desk. Free self-parking is available on-site and valet parking is available for a fee. The hotel operates a free shuttle service within a three-mile radius.