Belfast gets a chance to sample Moxy

Marriott International's Moxy hotel brand has enjoyed much success since he first Moxy Hotel was opened in Milan in 2014.

Just 11 years on, Marriott has opened its 100th Moxy hotel in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) with the debut of Moxy Belfast City (above).

The Moxy brand aims to offer fun, affordable stays. I've tried three: Glasgow, Milan Malpensa and Sydney Airport.

Set in the centre of Belfast, the 179-room property is the first Moxy in Northern Ireland.

A partnership with MHL Hotel Collection, the conversion project features the signature Moxy vibe - from a lobby where guests check in at Bar Moxy with a welcome drink, to buzzing communal spaces.

Like its siblings, the hotel is promoted as offering grab-and-go bites and a fun vibe.

It is within walking distance of Belfast City Hall, Ulster Hall, Victoria Square, and the nightlife area:  Cathedral Quarter.

“Reaching 100 hotels in EMEA is a proud moment for the Moxy brand,” said Neal Jones, Chief Operating Officer for Europe & Africa Premium & Select, Marriott International (phew!)

“Moxy Belfast City captures everything our guests love -bold design, energetic service, and a sense of fun that’s unmistakably Moxy. We’ve been challenging traditional hotel stays since the brand launched a decade ago, and now 60% of our global portfolio is in this region.”

After Belfast - not my favourite destination, I'm afraid - another five Moxy properties are scheduled to open this year in Europe in Lisbon, Dublin, Hamburg, London’s Piccadilly Circus, and Paris’s La Villette.

Moxy - part of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio - has built a reputation for industrial design, vibrant social areas, and youth appeal.

Paul Higgins, partner at MHL Hotel Collection, said: “We’re thrilled to be the 100th Moxy and the first in Northern Ireland. Belfast’s energy and character make it the perfect home for a brand that thrives on connection, fun, and innovation.”

Moxy bounces impressively into Bangkok

Marriott’s lively Moxy brand of hotels bills itself as being "for the young and young-at-heart". Guest contributor and Seniors’ Card holder Roderick Eime tests that claim at the one-year-old Bangkok property.

The Marriott people really broke out of the stodgy “cookie-cutter” hotel business with the introduction of the Moxy lifestyle brand, and the fresh Moxy Bangkok Ratchaprasong fits like the proverbial glove into this boisterous, youthful persona that now comprises 100-something sister properties around the world.

Both GOTR publisher Winsor and I have defied our advanced years and grown to embrace this outlandish brand. {See Winsor's review of the Glasgow Moxy)

My introduction to this offbeat brand was the first Australian property, the Moxy Sydney Airport. It struck me immediately with its brash, industrial-chic decor, which included various nods to retro eras like vinyl records and classic vintage arcade games.

Punchy beats echo around the welcome area, along with Liberace-meets-Banksy-meets-Warhol decorations and wall art. Naturally enough, these intentionally gaudy spaces lend themselves to social media sharing, a smart marketing strategy given the target customer base.

While similar in style and feel, the Bangkok property is the first and largest Moxy hotel in the Asia-Pacific region. It is located in the vibrant and rapidly developing Pathum Wan district, near the Chit Lom BTS, and takes the Moxy concept to the next level.

With more than 500 rooms on 20 levels, the accommodation is almost identical to what I recall from the Sydney Airport version. Sixty percent of the rooms are standard queen rooms, with the remainder in twin and deluxe configurations.

If I had any criticism at all, it would be the “cabin” size (18sqm) of the entry-level rooms, although the available space is cleverly adapted so that one doesn’t feel cluttered. Features like the “walldrobe” and folding furniture maximise the scant floor space, and the massive floor-to-ceiling windows offer a dizzying cityscape panorama.

The largest rooms are the deluxe 36sqm ones (above), of which there are 18. Another 18 corner rooms offer 26sqm of floorspace.

As a finicky sleeper whose aging bones are easily upset with many mattress types, even the expensive ones, I can soundly (pun intended) say the Simmons brand mattresses preferred by many top hotel chains, including Marriott, mean I don’t have to crane myself out of bed in the morning.

Comparisons with my local experience diverge completely when it comes to dining and event spaces. While Moxy Bangkok still retains an “industrial” feel with its long-bench cafeteria format, it blends perfectly with the arena-sized space on Level 9 where the reception, bar and various play spaces are located.

An expansive, themed outdoor terrace area is ideal for large or small events, and guests can choose to dine there while overlooking Bangkok’s glitzy ‘Blade Runner’ cityscape.

The ‘grab’n’go’ convenience booth is still tucked into the wall opposite the bar for those on the move, but a fulsome sit-down experience is preferred, especially since the kitchen proudly spruiks its many delicious offerings.

Chef P and his deputy chef Mind (above), proudly recommend some of the tasty creations offered in the Moxy Bar & Restaurant while I ponder the many choices. It seems the Massaman beef curry is their dinner favourite, while pork (or chicken) in black sauce soup is suggested as a bold breakfast boost - and I find both hard to dispute.

The cocktail menu reads like a Hollywood film festival and exemplifies the breakout bravado of the bar team. As they say in their own words, “our new cocktail line-up is a love letter to iconic scenes and legendary characters.” They go on to tease us with such creations as The Infinity Kiss, The Ice Berg, Hunter’s Last Shot, Galactic Stardust and Felix Felicis. I’ll leave you to make the various cinematic connections.

Promotions of various kinds are always on offer at the Moxy Bangkok Ratchaprasong, both with food and beverage and the rooms. For example, the ‘STAY FOR BREAKFAST’ promotion runs all year and entitles guests to a complimentary breakfast with their stay, normally THB399. I can personally attest to this feast, which will easily sustain you through your busy Bangkok day.

For more information, guests can contact Moxy Bangkok Ratchaprasong via email at moxy.bkkox.rsvn@moxyhotels.com, by phone at 02 209 5999, through LINE @MoxyBangkok, or visit the official website at www.moxybangkokratchaprasong.com. Culinary deals are also available for browsing via LINE Shopping at https://shop.line.me/@moxybangkok.

Marriott Bonvoy members receive special promotional offers and can earn various loyalty rewards, including Qantas Frequent Flyer points.

# The writer stayed with assistance from the Moxy. 

Hotel promotion is written in the stars

When it comes to hotel promotions there is nothing that is too whacky.

I had to make sure it was not April 1 when an email landed touting a collaboration between Moxy Hotels and leading astrology platform Sanctuary.

Apparently the pair has launched "a transformative astrological travel partnership, sparking cosmic curiosity in travellers across the globe".

Stop sniggering up the back!

Travellers apparently now have "the opportunity to take trips "that are literally written in the stars".

The partnership will feature Cosmic Curations, astro-adventure guides, and harnessing the power of astrocartography to bring consumers free personalsed travel recommendations including when to travel, where to travel and even who to travel with based on their birth signs.

I'm already hopelessly lost in space.

Moxy guests will also experience things such as:

# Sip by Sign at Bar Moxy: a new menu of cocktails and cosmically-inspired coffee foam patterns, manifesting an incredible stay from check-in.

# Bedtime Stories - Moxy’s signature Bedtime Stories program sees guests using their in-room rotary phones to hear their 2024 predictions by star sign element, listen to a serene sound bath, or journey through the universe and their psyche with dream interpretations.

# Localized Programming - Every destination has its own lore, and Moxy and Sanctuary want to highlight those. These include Aura Photography at Moxy Virginia Beach, full moon parties at Moxy Lisbon City, and many more.

I'm still not sure this is a real thing, but I do known Moxy is a brand with over 125 hotels across the world.

"Now, through our partnership with Sanctuary, guests can choose their destination in a way they never could before, and have it come to life during their stay,” says Brian Povinelli, senior vice president, Global Head of Marketing and Brand at Marriott International,

“Sanctuary was truly our ‘compatible sign’ for this initiative, as they share the same optimistic, colorful and playful point of view about the world as Moxy. We can’t wait for our guests all around the world to see it first-hand.”

Find out more at www.moxyhotels.com or check out #atthemoxy on Instagram.

A big wave of Moxy to hit Australia and New Zealand

An American ex boss of mine once said that I had "a lot of moxy".

I think he meant that I was a loudmouth pain-in-the-ass, but the word can also mean vibrant and full of of sass.

The online dictionary spells the world moxie, and defines it as "force of character, determination, or nerve".

It is a good name for a hotel brand with a fresh young vibe. 

I've enjoyed recent stays at two Moxy hotels; one in Glasgow, Scotland, and, more recently, at Milan Airport earlier this year.

The one at Malpensa gave me a late check out (delayed flight) for a very reasonable fee, had fast, free wifi and served delicious chilled Lugana at the bar. What more do you need? 

 

Australia will get its first Moxy when the Moxy Sydney Airport Hotel opens in the middle of next year.

The first Moxy Hotel to open in Australia for Marriott International, it is a $140 million project for joint venture owners RF Corval and KS Hotels & Resorts.

The hotel is located directly alongside Sydney Airport and will feature 301 guest rooms, the Moxy Kitchen and Moxy Bar – which will serve as a buzzing communal space and check-in area.

The property will also includes 199sqm of meeting and event space.

The hotel is billed being "conveniently positioned on a major thoroughfare into both the Sydney domestic and international terminals" - but they are a bloody long way from each other, so I am not sure how that will work.

Sean Hunt, area vice president for Marriott International, said: “The playful Moxy brand is one of Marriott International’s fastest growing brands in the Asia Pacific region - and we have four more in the pipeline in Melbourne, Perth, Auckland and Queenstown.

"With air travel now at 77% of pre-Covid levels and continuing to grow, Moxy Sydney Airport is located here in the heart of Australia’s international and domestic visitor gateway.”

Somewhere fun to stay in Glasgow

Glasgow is a destination that has transformed itself in recent years and the hip The Moxy Hotel Merchant City hotel is just a short stroll from the centre of Scotland's buzziest city. 

It is in a lively area known for its many eateries, student bars, art galleries and coffee shops.

The funky Moxy is part of the Marriott group and is just a short walk from both Glasgow Cathedral and the landmark George Square. 

There is a casual vibe with friendly staff and the rooms feature complimentary wifi, flat-screen TVs and tea- and coffee-making facilities.

It's easy to find someone to chat with around the bar and games area, and the multicultural staff are very helpful. 

Amenities include an industrial-chic 24-hour cafe/bar with a lively vibe, a lounge and a fitness centre. 

Prices start from under $100 per night for small rooms but rise steeply in peak periods, so it pays to book in advance. 

MOXY GLASGOW MERCHANT CITY

This is a version of a story that appeared in Winestate Magazine.