Mayor of Solihull Officially Opens Starboard's First AC Hotel
We are proud to announce the official opening of AC Hotel by Marriott Birmingham NEC and Airport, marked by a visit from The Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Sardul Singh Marwa MBE JP. The opening comes at an exciting time for the region, with Birmingham Airport preparing for what is expected to be its busiest summer ever.
Formerly operating as an ibis Styles hotel, the property joined the Starboard Hotels portfolio in 2018. Following a £4 million investment, we have transformed and repositioned the hotel under the AC Hotels by Marriott brand, making it the first Marriott-branded property within our portfolio.
Councillor Marwa said “I am delighted to welcome AC Hotel by Marriott Birmingham NEC and Airport to Solihull. The hotel will provide high-quality accommodation and create valuable employment opportunities, all at a time when Birmingham Airport is gearing up for its busiest summer ever. I wish the team every success as they begin this exciting new chapter."
The opening represents a major milestone for us and reflects our continued commitment to investing in our hotels, people and local communities.
Frazer Callingham, Managing Director of Starboard Hotels, said "Years of planning, design and investment have led to this point, and we're thrilled to bring the AC Hotels brand to the thriving Birmingham Airport market. We chose the AC Hotel brand because we believe it is exactly what travellers are seeking: a premium, design-led hotel experience, delivered by a passionate team and backed by the experience, dependability and innovation that Marriott brings."
He added “This is the first of what we hope will be many exciting milestones in our new relationship with Marriott and showcases Starboard's intent to continue investing in our hotels, local communities and teams."
The extensive refurbishment has introduced a sleek, contemporary design throughout the hotel. Our redesigned lobby and AC Lounge create a stylish and welcoming environment for both business and leisure travellers, offering spaces to work, relax or enjoy AC Hotels' signature cocktails and light bites.
As part of the hotel's unique character, guests can experience five bespoke stained-glass installations created by artist Jackie Callingham. Inspired by the history of Birmingham Airport, the pieces are displayed throughout the hotel, including behind reception, beside the lifts and within the lounge.
The renovation has also enhanced the hotel's facilities. AC Hotel by Marriott Birmingham NEC and Airport now offers 169 guestrooms, following the addition of three new bedrooms, alongside five flexible meeting rooms suitable for conferences, events and smaller gatherings. Guests can also make use of the AC Fitness Room, a modern and well-equipped gym.
Sustainability has been an important consideration throughout the project. As part of our ongoing commitment to improving environmental performance, we have installed the innovative ‘light symphony’ energy saving mechanism. The technology automatically powers down lighting, heating and air conditioning when rooms are unoccupied, helping to reduce energy consumption and minimise waste.