Le Meridien adds Chambers Minneapolis to its portfolio

Opened in 2006 by prominent art collector Ralph Burnet, Chambers is considered one of the world's top art hotels, featuring more than 250 original artworks by such noted artists as Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin and Gavin Turk. The hotel has been renamed Le Méridien Chambers Minneapolis.

"Le Méridien shares with its guests a passion for style, art, architecture, design, and cuisine, all focal points of Chambers and owner Ralph Burnet," said Eva Ziegler, global brand leader, Le Méridien and W Hotels Worldwide. "Chambers will serve as a flagship for Le Méridien's North American portfolio, and a perfect example of its new direction as a creative hub in vibrant cities around the world."

"For the last year and a half, I've seen firsthand the benefits the Starwood organization brings to a hotel property," said Burnet, referring to W Minneapolis - The Foshay, his other hotel property which opened in late 2008. "Le Méridien embraces contemporary art and cuisine the way that the W brand revels in fashion and music. Chambers is clearly all about great art, food and service - which makes this a tremendous fit."

Le Méridien Chambers was designed for those individuals who recognize and are inspired by contemporary art and cuisine combined with great service. Behind the hotel's distinctive mahogany double doors, guests are greeted with an eclectic mix of original, contemporary art by internationally renowned artists. Video monitors line the guestroom corridors with a constant display of award-winning video art, and during their stays, in-the-know guests take the stairs whenever possible to enjoy, Elemental, the five-story mural that runs the entire height of the hotel's main stairwell. In the hotel's Burnet Gallery, guests may purchase works by international, national and local artists.

Designed by Rockwell Group (Kodak Theatre, Nobu, among others), Le Méridien Chambers' timeless, chic design provides an ideal backdrop to its contemporary art collection. The hotel wraps around Eden, an open-air, grotto-style lounge courtyard that is open year round and features a large, sleek, 10-foot square gas fire pit. During the winter months a portion of Eden transforms into, Ice Chamber, a 256-foot bar created from 12,000 pounds of crystal clear ice. A fifth floor lounge offers dramatic 360-degree vistas of the downtown Minneapolis skyline via floor-to-ceiling glass walls and a surrounding balcony. D'Amico Kitchen, the hotel's restaurant offers Italian fare by the Twin Cities' acclaimed restaurateurs, Larry and Richard D'Amico. Live streaming video of the restaurant's behind-the-scenes activity is projected nightly on a massive screen on one of Eden's courtyard walls.

www.LeMeriden.com/minneapolis