European flair coming with Township hotel
TOWNSHIP — Mississippi’s first AC Hotel by Marriott is adding a European flair to Ridgeland for both business and leisure travelers
The hotel, the first of its kind in the state, is set to open later this month. The closest Marriott of this type is in New Orleans. The AC will be the fourth hotel at the Township on the Highland Colony in Ridgeland.
Director of Sales Amber Davis said that the AC Hotel Jackson Ridgeland has an opening date set for Jan. 27 with a grand opening event and ribbon-cutting set for Feb. 22.
“We are excited,” Davis said. “I like how modern it is.”
Davis and other staff have been hosting hard hat tours of the property to those interested as builders, staff and craftsman work to put finishing touches on the building.
The project was approved in Oct. 2018 and broke ground in March 2019. Developer, the Kerrioth Corporation of Ridgeland, was originally shooting for a 2020 opening date.
The five-story, 414 million building will have 132 rooms and offer amenities that include a fitness center and four meeting spaces as well as a 1,000 square foot 79 seat capacity flex room that can accommodate a variety of events has access to the patio.
“Our phones are already ringing off the hook with people asking about reserving wedding blocks or a block for their sports teams,” Davis said. “We can also accommodate corporate events and other associations.”
The hotel will have 78 rooms with a king-sized bed and 51 with two queens. They will also have three kind-sized suites that will feature a sitting area separate from the bedroom and bathroom in the room.
All rooms will feature overhead “rain-style” showerheads, closet space and a smart fridge. The rooms with a king-sized bed will have sleeper sofas. There are no adjoining rooms, though doors at the end of each hallway can be closed to isolate two rooms with doors facing each other.
A “lavender cart” will circulate in the evenings offering guests a bag of lavender that they can put on their pillow or put under the showerhead to enjoy the relaxing fragrance.
The lobby will have a marketplace with dry goods, beverages and treats from Mississippi that include Mississippi State cheese and ice cream, Pirouline rolled wafers and Indianola pecans.
“We want people who visit from out of state to be able to take something home with them,” Davis said.
The southwest side of the buildings has the front door but to the north, Davis said they have a revolving door to encourage residents and other visitors of the township to come in and enjoy their 96 seat bar area.
Davis said guests and visitors can order a drink at the bar or some small plate tapas from their restaurant menu.
“The concept is that the hotel can be a comfortable and collaborative workspace during the day and a social hub at night,” Davis said. “I have talked to some of the residents around here and they said they are looking forward to a new place to eat and hang out and have drinks.”
Davis said that they also hope guests will take advantage of their central location which includes proximity to the Reservoir and Natchez Trace and downtown Jackson.
For more information about a room or to schedule a tour call 601-605-1101 or go to marriott.com/hotels/travel/janac-ac-hotel-jackson-ridgeland.