Renaissance Hotels
Sub-brand
UnclaimedA global upscale lifestyle hotel brand owned and operated within Marriott International's portfolio.
Last updated August 21, 2026
Overview
Renaissance Hotels is an upscale, internationally operated hotel brand within Marriott International. The brand began in 1981 as Ramada Renaissance, an upscale division of Ramada Inns. Its first property was located in Aurora, Colorado, near Denver, and the early concept emphasized large hotels in major urban and business destinations. The name was subsequently separated from the broader Ramada business and developed as an independent hotel brand. A major ownership transition took place in 1989, when Hong Kong-based New World Development acquired Ramada's hotel operations. New World divided the Renaissance and Ramada businesses, developing them as separate hotel brands while retaining or reorganizing ownership interests in many individual properties through affiliated entities. The separation gave Renaissance a distinct identity and enabled it to expand beyond its original Ramada association. New World Development further enlarged the brand's hotel platform in 1993 by acquiring Stouffer Hotels & Resorts from Nestle. The transaction brought 40 hotels into the wider group. During a transitional period lasting until 1996, 28 U.S. Stouffer properties operated under the Stouffer Renaissance name before being integrated or repositioned. This period added historic urban hotels, resorts, and convention properties to Renaissance's portfolio and helped establish the brand as a manager and franchisor of substantial full-service hotels rather than merely a conventional roadside lodging chain. In 1995, New World's hotel management and franchising business was reorganized as Renaissance Hotel Group N.V. and listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The group operated Renaissance, New World, and Ramada International brands. Marriott International acquired Renaissance Hotel Group N.V. on February 18, 1997, for approximately US$1 billion, outbidding Doubletree's reported offer. The transaction included Renaissance and Ramada International, but not the Stouffer Hotels brand itself. It expanded Marriott's presence in Asian and other international markets and placed Renaissance within Marriott's global distribution, loyalty, management, and franchising system. After the Marriott acquisition, Renaissance continued as a distinct upscale brand. Its hotels generally combine full-service accommodation with restaurants, meeting facilities, event spaces, and locally oriented design or programming. The brand has been positioned around discovery and a sense of place, with properties often located in city centers, convention districts, airport areas, historic buildings, and resort destinations. Individual hotels may be owned by third parties and operated or franchised under Marriott agreements, so the composition of the portfolio changes over time through openings, conversions, transfers, and departures. The portfolio includes properties in the United States and international markets such as Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Examples include Renaissance Barcelona Fira, Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel, Renaissance Seattle Hotel, Renaissance Nashville Hotel, Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel, Renaissance Providence Hotel, and Renaissance Dallas Hotel. Several properties occupy restored or repurposed historic buildings, including the Renaissance Cincinnati Downtown Hotel, Renaissance Providence Hotel, and The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa. Other hotels have changed brands over time as Marriott has refined its portfolio, including the former Renaissance Blackstone Hotel, which transferred to Autograph Collection in 2017, and the former Renaissance Vinoy, which moved to Autograph Collection in 2023. As of January 31, 2023, reference material described the brand as having more than 170 hotels worldwide. Renaissance remains an active Marriott brand focused on upscale full-service hotels, urban stays, meetings, and destination-oriented hospitality.
History
Renaissance Hotels originated in 1981 as Ramada Renaissance, an upscale division of Ramada Inns. Its first hotel opened in Aurora, Colorado, outside Denver. The early brand focused on substantial full-service hotels in major urban centers, distinguishing it from the more broadly distributed Ramada lodging business. In 1989, Hong Kong-based New World Development acquired Ramada's hotel operations. New World subsequently separated Renaissance and Ramada into distinct hotel businesses. The reorganization allowed Renaissance to develop its own identity, while the Ramada name and related rights were handled through separate corporate arrangements. New World also retained ownership interests in a number of hotel properties through affiliated companies connected with the Cheng family. New World's acquisition of Stouffer Hotels & Resorts in 1993 materially changed Renaissance's scale and character. Stouffer contributed 40 hotels, including established urban and resort properties. Twenty-eight U.S. hotels temporarily operated as Stouffer Renaissance properties during a transition that lasted until 1996. Although the Stouffer brand itself was not ultimately included in Marriott's later acquisition of Renaissance Hotel Group, the Stouffer transaction influenced the properties and management platform associated with Renaissance during the 1990s. On September 27, 1995, New World took its hotel management and franchising company public through Renaissance Hotel Group N.V. The listed group operated the New World, Renaissance, and Ramada International brands. Its corporate structure combined brand management and franchising with property interests held through related companies. Marriott International acquired Renaissance Hotel Group N.V. on February 18, 1997. The reported purchase price was approximately US$1 billion. Marriott's bid exceeded Doubletree's reported offer and gave Marriott the Renaissance and Ramada International brands, but not the Stouffer Hotels brand. The acquisition increased Marriott's presence in fast-growing Asian markets and added an established international upscale brand to its existing hotel system. Following the acquisition, Renaissance continued as a separate Marriott brand rather than being absorbed into the Marriott Hotels name. Marriott used its management, franchising, reservation, and loyalty infrastructure to support further international expansion. The brand's hotels have typically been full-service properties offering guest rooms, restaurants, meeting space, and amenities adapted to their locations. Properties have appeared in city centers, convention districts, airport markets, resort areas, and architecturally significant historic buildings. The identity of the brand has increasingly emphasized local discovery and distinctive experiences. This positioning is reflected in the variety of properties carrying the name: the Renaissance Barcelona Fira in the Barcelona metropolitan area; Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel in Malaysia; and U.S. properties such as Renaissance Nashville, Renaissance Pittsburgh, Renaissance Providence, Renaissance Seattle, Renaissance Dallas, and The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa. Some hotels were newly built, while others involved conversions or restorations of existing structures. Renaissance's portfolio has also changed through property-level rebranding and management changes. The former Renaissance Blackstone Hotel in Chicago moved to Autograph Collection in 2017, and the Vinoy in St. Petersburg moved to Autograph Collection in 2023. In Kuala Lumpur, the East Wing of the Renaissance property became a separate Four Points by Sheraton hotel in 2023. These changes demonstrate that the brand's reported hotel count and geographic footprint are not static and depend partly on Marriott's broader portfolio strategy and on individual ownership or management agreements. Reference material reported more than 170 Renaissance hotels worldwide as of January 31, 2023. The brand remains active under Marriott International and serves upscale business, leisure, group, convention, and resort guests across international markets.
- 2023
Renaissance Kuala Lumpur is partially converted to Four Points
[1]The property's East Wing becomes a separate Four Points by Sheraton hotel while the West Wing remains Renaissance.
- 2023
The Vinoy moves from Renaissance to Autograph Collection
[1]The historic St. Petersburg property leaves the Renaissance brand and becomes an Autograph Collection hotel.
- 2017
Renaissance Blackstone transfers to Autograph Collection
[1]The historic Chicago property leaves Renaissance and joins Marriott's Autograph Collection.
- 2014
Renaissance Cincinnati Downtown Hotel opens in the Bartlett Building
[1]A historic Cincinnati building is repurposed as a Renaissance hotel.
- 2011
Renaissance Barcelona Fira opens
[1]The Renaissance Barcelona Fira Hotel opens in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat near Barcelona.
- 2007
The Battle House is reflagged after restoration
[1]After a two-year restoration, the historic Mobile property reopens as The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa.
- 2004
Ramada International is sold
[1]Marriott sells Ramada International to Cendant, leaving Renaissance as the continuing brand from the former Renaissance Hotel Group portfolio.
- 1997
Marriott International acquires Renaissance Hotel Group N.V.
[1]Marriott acquires Renaissance and Ramada International for approximately US$1 billion.
- 1995
Renaissance Hotel Group N.V. lists on the New York Stock Exchange
[1]New World's hotel management and franchising operation becomes a public company operating several hotel brands.
- 1993
Stouffer portfolio enters the wider New World platform
[1]New World acquires Stouffer Hotels & Resorts, and 28 U.S. properties temporarily operate under the Stouffer Renaissance name.
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Products and positioning
Upscale lifestyle hospitality centered on distinctive destinations, local discovery, full-service accommodations, dining, and meetings.
Upscale urban hotels · 1981
Renaissance City Hotels
Full-service hotels in urban and business destinations, typically combining guest rooms with restaurants, bars, meeting rooms, and event facilities. Examples include Renaissance Seattle, Renaissance Pittsburgh, Renaissance Nashville, and Renaissance Dallas. Many properties are positioned near downtown districts, commercial centers, airports, or convention venues.
Meetings and events
Renaissance Convention Hotels
Large-scale Renaissance properties designed to accommodate conferences, exhibitions, weddings, and corporate events. Their offering commonly includes extensive meeting space, banquet operations, business services, and accommodation for group travelers. The Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel is an example of this format.
Resorts
Renaissance Resort Hotels
Destination-oriented properties combining Renaissance accommodation with resort amenities such as pools, leisure facilities, restaurants, fitness services, and, where applicable, spa or golf access. Facilities and services vary by property because individual hotels may be owned and operated under different agreements.
Historic hotels
Historic and Adaptive-Reuse Renaissance Hotels
Properties that use restored, converted, or architecturally notable buildings. Examples include Renaissance Cincinnati Downtown in the Bartlett Building, Renaissance Providence in a former unfinished Masonic Temple, and The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa. These hotels support the brand's emphasis on distinctive local settings.
Brand decisions
2023
Partially reconfigure Renaissance Kuala LumpurStrategyBackground
Marriott adjusted the use of the two-wing Kuala Lumpur property within its multi-brand hotel system.
Action taken
The East Wing was converted into a separate Four Points by Sheraton hotel, while Renaissance continued in the West Wing.
Aftermath
The property became a multi-brand site rather than operating entirely under the Renaissance flag.
2004
Sell Ramada InternationalM&ABackground
Marriott reassessed the composition of the portfolio acquired from Renaissance Hotel Group.
Action taken
Marriott sold Ramada International to Cendant.
Aftermath
Renaissance remained a Marriott brand while Ramada International moved outside Marriott's portfolio.
1997
Marriott acquires Renaissance Hotel Group N.V.M&ABackground
Marriott sought to expand its international hotel presence, particularly in Asian markets, while Renaissance Hotel Group was being pursued by multiple buyers.
Action taken
Marriott purchased Renaissance Hotel Group N.V., including the Renaissance and Ramada International brands.
Aftermath
Renaissance became part of Marriott's global management, franchising, reservation, and loyalty ecosystem. The Stouffer Hotels brand was excluded from the transaction.
Acquisition price. Approximately US$1 billion (February 18, 1997)
- Doubletree Corporation — Doubletree had reportedly made an approximately US$890 million offer before Marriott surpassed it.
1993
Acquire Stouffer Hotels & ResortsM&ABackground
New World Development expanded its hotel platform by purchasing Stouffer Hotels & Resorts from Nestle.
Action taken
The acquisition added 40 hotels, with 28 U.S. properties temporarily using the Stouffer Renaissance name.
Aftermath
The transition broadened Renaissance's exposure to established urban, resort, and convention properties before the brand portfolio was later reorganized.
Reported acquisition value. Approximately US$1.5 billion (1993)
1989
Separate Renaissance from RamadaStrategyBackground
Following New World Development's acquisition of Ramada's hotel operations, the company sought to manage Renaissance and Ramada as distinct hotel brands.
Action taken
Renaissance was separated from the Ramada identity and developed as an independent hotel chain.
Aftermath
The change created the organizational basis for Renaissance's later upscale and international positioning.
Recent events
- 2023
Renaissance Kuala Lumpur's East Wing becomes Four Points[1]
Other
The East Wing of Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel was converted into a separate Four Points by Sheraton property, while Renaissance retained the West Wing.
- 2017
Several properties transfer to other Marriott brands[1]
Other
The former Renaissance Blackstone Hotel in Chicago transferred to Marriott's Autograph Collection, illustrating the continuing repositioning of individual properties within Marriott's brand architecture.
- 2014
DashCon convention encounters venue and organizational problems[1]
Other
The Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel hosted the Tumblr-inspired DashCon convention, which became associated with disputes involving organizers, attendees, and alleged non-payment of venue fees.
- 2004
Marriott later sells Ramada International[1]
M&A
Marriott sold the Ramada International brand to Cendant, later associated with Wyndham. Renaissance remained within Marriott's portfolio.
- 1997
Marriott International acquires Renaissance Hotel Group N.V.[1]
M&A
Marriott acquired Renaissance Hotel Group N.V. for approximately US$1 billion, taking control of the Renaissance and Ramada International brands and broadening its international hotel platform.
- 1995
Renaissance Hotel Group N.V. becomes publicly listed[1]
Other
New World's hotel management and franchising operations were reorganized as Renaissance Hotel Group N.V. and listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
- 1993
New World Development acquires Stouffer Hotels & Resorts[1]
M&A
The acquisition added a 40-hotel Stouffer portfolio to New World's wider hotel platform. Twenty-eight U.S. properties temporarily used the Stouffer Renaissance name before the transition ended in 1996.
- 1989
New World Development separates Renaissance from Ramada[1]
Other
After acquiring Ramada's hotel business, New World Development reorganized Renaissance and Ramada as separate hotel brands, giving Renaissance an independent operating and marketing identity.
Sources2 sources
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