Marriott opens new Courtyard and Residence Inn Hotels in Richmond.

Marriott International Inc. opened the first new Marriott hotels  in downtown Richmond Monday in 20 years.

A combined 135-room Courtyard Hotel and 75-suite Residence Inn hotel, an extended-stay property, opened for business at 14th and Cary Streets in the city’s historic Shockoe Slip district. The properties are on the site of a temporary capital where the Virginia General Assembly passed the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom in 1786.

The complex includes the First Freedom Center, a 1,500-square-foot gallery that documents the history behind the statute. It opens on Jan. 16.

Apple Hospitality REIT owns the new properties, which will be managed by White Lodging Services of Merrillville, Ind.

The hotels share a lobby, a fitness center and 2,862 square feet of meeting space, which can accommodate functions of up to 210 people. They also offer a grocery delivery service and onsite food and beverage market.

They properties are close to the American Civil War Center at Tredegar, Brown’s Island, the Valentine Museum and Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center.

“Attracting both business travelers as well as tourists, this historic area of Richmond is an ideal location for the dual opening,” Janis Milham, a senior vice president for extended stay brands for Marriott International, said in a statement. “Each brand offers distinct amenities and services that tailor to all visitors.”

The hotel’s general manager is Aaron Pellitt, most recently an employee of the Courtyard Richmond Airport, while Julia Raftery, who previously worked at the Omni Richmond, is director of sales.

The Courtyard Richmond Downtown offers a business lobby environment, where guests can enjoy an open area outside of their rooms. It is equipped with media pods, complimentary Wi-Fi and a variety of seating zones. 

A business library features several computer terminals, along with a printer and separate computer stations dedicated to printing airline-boarding passes and checking flight status.