3 Exciting Concepts Being Tested Inside Marriott's New Innovation Incubator

Marriott International's flagship brand celebrated the opening of M Beta at Charlotte Marriott City Center this week. Moving forward, the hotel will serve as an innovation lab where Marriott Hotels & Resorts will test new concepts.

"The demographic of our guests is changing, and it's very important to stay in dialogue with them," Marriott Hotels Managing Director Mike Dearing told Fast Company this past summer. "The Charlotte hotel is really our innovation lab. This is where we're testing our best thinking and new concepts. We're staying in constant dialogue with our guests to figure out what works and what they connect with best."

As Dearing alluded to, guests at the hotel can use Live Beta Buttons to provide feedback on various product and service offerings with a thumbs-up or thumbs-down.

While it remains to be seen what concepts will take off and which will fall flat, here are three of the most exciting that were launched this week.

Futuristic Fitness

Plenty of hotels make it easy to workout during your travels. But with FLEX fitness, guests staying at the Charlotte Marriott City Center will have no excuse to skip out on their routine.

READ MORE: Marriott Hotels Bringing TED Talks to Guestrooms

The unique fitness offering will allow guests to access nearly 1,000 on-demand group and individual workouts from the on-site fitness studio or inside of their room. What's more, guests can sign up for discounted fitness classes at nearby boutiques and access running and biking routes that will allow them to get the most out of their destination.

Immersive Dining

The kitchen and dining area inside hotel restaurants are typically separated by walls, and for good reason most of the time. But the Stoke restaurant and bar in the Charlotte Marriott City Center will test out a much different look, removing the walls between chef and guest to promote interaction and exploration.

.@CLTMarriottCC's Stoke Restaurant is stirring up Stoke Fashioneds this evening to celebrate the #MBeta launch! pic.twitter.com/6dGPQXU0Uk

— Marriott Hotels (@Marriott) October 11, 2016

Here, local chef Chris Coleman will serve up farm-to-table Southern-style food as diners look on. The pioneering space will also offer a rotation of local artisan tastings and cooking classes for guests to participate in during their stay.

Reimagined Meeting Space

Meetings and events will be enhanced at the Charlotte Marriott City Center. After all, the meeting space will boast a complete LG kitchen. Here, business travelers will be able to personalize their food and beverage offerings.

READ MORE: What Will Marriott’s Hotel of the Future Look Like?

"LG's innovative products have helped us to provide the cutting-edge space and experience that the brand envisioned," said the hotel's General Manager Crissy Wright in a statement.

The space will also be incredibly flexible, with pivotable walls and moveable partitions allowing guests to quickly transform their space with ease. Additional LG technology, including LED TVs and interactive touchscreens will add to the space's versatility. 

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