Hotel Blackhawk Takes Home Awards for Sips and Style

DAVENPORT, IA--(Marketwired - Aug 2, 2013) - What do Forbes Travel Guide and Wine Spectator have in common? For starters, they know hospitality inside and out, whether it's a top-notch destination or a first-class wine list. They also determine through their editorial where people will travel and what people will eat. And the point where all these qualities converge is at Hotel Blackhawk, Autograph Collection, which recently received Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence as well as a place on Forbes' roundup of 10 top historic hotels in America.

Of course, this isn't Hotel Blackhawk's first brush with prestige. The historic Davenport hotel opened in 1915, welcomed everyone from presidents to movie stars, underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation and reopened in 2010 with enough modern conveniences to set it apart without detracting from its glamour. One of these modern conveniences is Bix Bistro and Lounge. This is the second year the upscale Davenport lounge has received Wine Spectator's coveted Award of Excellence, which is bestowed on those restaurants where the wine lists (usually featuring at least 100 selections) are expertly matched with the menu's culinary style and pricing.

Of course, the expert touches extend well beyond Bix Bistro and into every aspect of this Davenport, Iowa boutique hotel. Its vibrant historic legacy subtly informs each space, from the grand foyer's original white marble floors, to the guest rooms' marriage of gracious furnishings with a contemporary color palette (think creams, aubergine and black-and-white graphics). As a result, Hotel Blackhawk emerges as a truly original property among hotels in downtown Davenport and beyond.

Hotel Blackhawk is more than just a pretty face with a knockout wine list, however. The property is conveniently located just minutes from the airport and Davenport's museums and theaters. Plus its extensive range of amenities include a heated indoor pool, a 24-hour fitness center, a swanky bowling alley that boasts its own martini lounge and its own in-demand Spa Luce, which is a favorite among locals and visitors alike. All this means that Hotel Blackhawk's most recent two awards will likely become just the first of many for this exceptional property.

About Hotel Blackhawk, Autograph Collection
Visiting the Quad Cities may mean travelers have plenty of options when it comes to hotels, but only one combines historic charm with modern luxury against a backdrop of tasteful indulgence, and that is Hotel Blackhawk, Autograph Collection. The hotel has welcomed presidents, celebrities and athletes since it opened in 1915, and that genteel sensibility has endured its nearly 100 subsequent years of hospitality. After a multimillion-dollar renovation in 2010, Hotel Blackhawk emerged looking better than ever. The 130 contemporary-styled guest rooms and suites feature complimentary Wi-Fi, laptop safes, HD televisions, iPhone docking stations and in-mirror LCD televisions in the bathrooms. Executive suites, meanwhile, make business travel more focused on pleasure than work, thanks to their full kitchens, washers/ dryers and multiple bathrooms. Of course, the hotel's extensive repertoire of recreation helps in that department, too. Hotel Blackhawk offers its guests access to its indoor pool, 24-hour fitness center, bowling alley and martini lounge, full-service Spa Luce, upscale Bix Bistro and Lounge and its creative riff on the coffee house, Beignet Done That. Six meeting rooms and nearly 10,000 square feet of event space afford appealing options for groups and events, while the friendly, helpful staff works hard to exceed every expectation. And with a location on the Mississippi River, just minutes from the airport, Hotel Blackhawk puts its guests only steps away from the cultural and historic attractions of Davenport and the other Quad Cities. Choice, in other words, ceases to be an issue when travelers can stay at Hotel Blackhawk.

About Autograph Collection
Marriott's Autograph Collection® is an evolving ensemble of strikingly independent hotels. Each destination has been selected for its bold originality, rich character and uncommon details. From near to far, iconic to historic, the result is an array of properties that is nothing less than unique, nothing short of collectively exceptional. For more information please visit www.autograph-hotels.marriott.com/.