Marriott Took Over The Omni Jacksonville Hotel

Charles I. Guarria
Jul 2
2 min read

Something happened on the way to becoming a Marriott Hotel for the former Omni Hotel in Jacksonville, Florida.

It wasn't a good thing. An Era Ended. An Error Began.

Located at 245 Water St., the hotel reopened as the Marriott Jacksonville Downtown in April 2022, with a promise to remodel.

Well, travelers, the wait is nearly over. Yes, three years and three months later, a friendly front desk employee informed that the renovations are 98% complete, with some ADA rooms still needing last-minute touches.

**A rendering of the renovated front desk at the Marriott Jacksonville Downtown**

The Marriott Jacksonville Downtown is mostly perceived as a 4-star, upper-upscale hotel. The error referred to above is that it didn't start out that way.

I had two stays in 2023, the year after the hotel became a Marriott. Feeling exhilarated coming back to a place with such great memories, when it was the Omni, plus being a big fan of Marriott, seemingly the renovations would be awesome.

The exhilaration was quickly wiped away by the stains on the couch in my room, the unkempt look of the hotel bar, slow service and an unclean public bathroom. No bugs, mind you, and the hallways leading to the room were still beautiful.

However, that is in the past, and the hotel's website proclaims the renovations are a "fresh new look" blending "modern comfort with sophisticated style," that features "sleek furnishings, upgraded amenities, and touches designed for work & relaxation."

Great, that's what they say, but what are guests saying?

Being that it is newly renovated, I did not look past one month for reviews on Tripadvisor or Yelp; all the reviews were four-starred. One Tripadvisor reviewer commented, "I stayed on the 15th floor in a renovated apartment and found it to be excellent, modern and very comfortable. Excellent bed, new furniture, super-fast Wi-Fi, and a bright bathroom with an excellent shower and good amenities."

In 2023, after my two bad experiences when renovations were ongoing, I vowed to give the hotel a second chance once the work was done. Therefore, I will. It may soon. Stay tuned!

Check the vid for renderings.