New Marriott Coming to Downtown Pittsburgh

By Keith Loria, Contributing Editor

AC Hotel by Marriott Smallman

Pittsburgh—Concord Hospitality Enterprises Co. has revealed plans to open AC Hotel by Marriott Smallman, a new 133-key hotel in downtown Pittsburgh.

The project is being financed by S&T Bank and marks Concord’s 19^th hotel in the Pittsburgh market, although it’s the first AC Hotel by Marriott in the area.

“Recent development in the Pittsburgh area has spiked interest from outside investors and contributed heavily to the revitalization of downtown,” Mark Laport, Concord Hospitality co-founder, president & CEO, said in a prepared release. “AC Smallman enriches Concord’s vision to create irresistible places within vibrant communities, and we believe it will be very successful in Pittsburgh.”

The new hotel project will feature modern guest rooms; the AC LoungeSM; AC Kitchen, with European-inspired breakfast; bartenders with local expertise; WiFi everywhere; mobile check-in and check-out; and a 24-hour fitness center.

Concord Hospitality has partnered with Marriott International on the development of new hotel brands for the last two decades.

“AC Hotel by Marriott is an emerging lifestyle brand in the U.S. and appeals to design-conscious guests that also want an experiential stay when traveling,” Keith McGraw, a partner with Concord Hospitality, said in the release. “These travelers prefer urban and metro locations that provide easy, walkable access to arts and entertainment, restaurants, shops and galleries, as is the case with Pittsburgh’s popular Strip District.”

The hotel will be built next door to the restaurant Eleven and across the street from the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

According to STR Global, occupancy rates and per-room revenue in the seven-county Pittsburgh region have dropped from a year ago, a period in which more than 2,000 rooms hit the market.