Interview with Ric Nicholson, Director of Sales and Marketing at Warwick Seattle

Lifestyle - Interview

by Melisa Kaya

Seattle is home to some of the world's largest companies, and this puts it in a different position within the business world. However, as a city that blends harmoniously business life and a vibrant lifestyle, it welcomes both leisure and business travelers all year round. Warwick Seattle has been serving to Seattle for over 30 years as an important part of the Warwick Hotels and Resorts, which has 55 unique hotels in 22 countries. With 231 guest rooms and suites, unique tastes in Margaux Restaurant, an indoor pool, meeting rooms, and the Margaux Lounge where guests feel special, the Warwick Seattle offers all the facilities for the comfort of its guests. I talked with Ric Nicholson, Director of Sales and Marketing at Warwick Seattle, about Warwick Seattle and their services.

Ric, before talking about Warwick Seattle, I would like to learn more about you. Could you tell us about yourself and your journey to Warwick Seattle?

It’s a long and sordid tale. Suffice to say I have been in hospitality for 5 decades and have enjoyed every minute of it. I have lived in five states, seven different cities, worked for six different companies and have travelled considerably.

Warwick Seattle

Please tell us about the location of Warwick Seattle and the advantages of being there.

The location of the hotel is our primary benefit to guests as we are walkable to nearly everything. Our location is just to the “north” side of downtown Seattle, and has proven to be highly desirable and within easy walking distance of top attractions like Pike Place Market, the historic Seattle Waterfront, Seattle Art Museum and Seattle Center (Space Needle, MoPOP - formerly Experience Music Project, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Key Arena, the Seattle Opera and the Pacific Northwest Ballet). Just two blocks away is the famous Seattle Monorail, and within three blocks is the Central Link light rail system connecting south beyond Sea-Tac Airport and north to the University of Washington. Also located within steps is Seattle’s business and shopping district, the Washington State Convention and Trade Center and the vibrant Belltown area, which boasts the city’s most popular restaurants and entertainment.

Could you tell us about Warwick Seattle and the overall concept?

In a city known for setting trends, Warwick Seattle is leading the way. Warwick Seattle hotel blends the classic charm that’s expected from the Warwick name with the contemporary styling of the Emerald City throughout. Boasting unique accommodations inspired by Seattle culture, staying at Warwick Seattle allows guests to truly experience Seattle while finding pleasant surprises along the way. With refreshing seaborne mists in the breeze, evergreen-covered hills lining the horizon and the heart of Seattle right at our doorstep.

Warwick Seattle

What is the meaning of the luxury for the Warwick family?

Warwick prides itself as a worldwide collection of upscale hotels and resorts. With more than 55 hotels in 22 countries and more than 7,700 rooms exclusively in the 4 and 5 star segment, each hotel in the Collection is independently unique, reflecting the spirit of the deep-rooted origins in the locale it inhabits, originality and personality it possesses, made exquisite by influences of its history, people and culture. At Warwick Hotels and Resorts, the goal is to have common features that weave the fabric of our DNA together. Mainly, these are unique history, exceptional location, sumptuous suites, and delectable gastronomy.

For over 30 years, the strategy deployed by Warwick Hotels and Resorts (WHR) is based on three distinct but aligned models: owned and-managed; affiliation agreements and management contracts.

Warwick Seattle

Warwick Seattle has carefully decorated rooms and suites with city view. What type of different rooms and suites do you offer to your guests? Could you tell us about their features?

Warwick Seattle offers 231 guest rooms and suites that feature floor-to-ceiling glass window walls with step out ‘Juliette’ balconies, providing vistas of the city skyline and beyond. All of our inviting guestrooms and suites are well-appointed with Italian marble bathrooms, designer bath amenities, mini-bars or refrigerators, hairdryers, irons/ironing boards, in-room safes, in-room complimentary coffee and tea, and multiple phones. Also featured are Serta plush beds, Bluetooth multi-media center, internationally adaptable power point/sockets for electrical plugs, and 49" flat screen LCD TVs with PureHD programming and seven HBO channels.

Warwick Seattle

We offer two room types, king and double queen accommodations, and three room categories based on floor location within the hotel – Deluxe (floors 2 – 9), Executive (floors 10 – 14) and Premier (floors 15 – 19).

Room design is basically the same throughout, with better city views the higher the floor, and Deluxe rooms provide mini-fridges while Executive and Premier rooms provide mini-bars.

We also feature four suites located on the top (19th) floor. All feature king size master bedding in floor plans ranging from 710 to 1,077 square feet, skylights and two provide jetted tubs, two soaker tubs.

Warwick Seattle

What kind of services and amenities do you offer to your guest for making their stay unforgettable?

The property features include an indoor heated swimming pool and whirlpool, 24-hour exercise facility and business center. Valet or self-parking is offered in the adjacent garage. Dining options include Margaux Restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, Margaux Lounge (offering Happy Hour daily from 4pm – 7pm) and 24-hour in-room dining service.

Warwick Seattle

Warwick Seattle is host to Margaux Restaurant. Could you tell us about Margaux Restaurant and the other gastronomic experiences that Warwick Seattle offers?

Margaux Restaurant is located inside the Warwick Seattle in the Belltown neighborhood of downtown Seattle. Margaux offers an opportunity to experience inspired Northwestern style cuisine of a quality that rivals any restaurant in Seattle. Established in 1999 and serving all three meal periods, Margaux has a reputation for providing top notch food and service combined with a relaxed yet refined atmosphere. We are a casual restaurant with service and etiquette you will be comfortable enjoying while out with your family or for a special occasion.

Margaux Lounge is open from 11:30 am to 11:00 pm daily, and offers a refuge where guests can enjoy a wide variety of drink options and specially prepared tapas and cocktails made with only the finest and freshest ingredients. Specialty cocktails include the Blueberry Lemon Drop, Seattle Sidecar, Mango or Passion Fruit Mojitos and popular Margauxrita. On tap find Shock Top, Mac and Jack’s African Amber and Maritime Old Seattle Lager, or consider the vast wine selection of Northwest, California and international vintages. A lounge and tapas menu will tantalize the taste buds as one considers Margaux Wings, Barbecue Pork Sliders, Thai Curry Prawns, Dungeness Crab Cake, Ahi or venerable Margaux Burger. With Happy Hour from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., it’s the perfect spot to get away from it all after business, to gear up for a night out, or to drop in for one last treat before retiring to the room.

Warwick Seattle

What are the incentives that you offer to companies that want to organize their events in Warwick Seattle? Could you tell us about your meeting rooms and their features?

Unfortunately, our meeting and event space is minimal. While we offer 231 guest rooms, our primary meeting room, Sasquatch at 858 square feet, will hold up to 45 in a classroom setting or 64 in banquet rounds of 8. Further, our second meeting room, the Executive Boardroom, is 312 square feet and will accommodate up to 12 conference style. We are ideal for smaller, more demure events.

We also can provide Margaux Restaurant as a venue for receptions to 130 or dining for up to 80.

Warwick Seattle

How could your guests spend time at Warwick Seattle?

The Warwick Seattle offers an indoor pool, whirlpool and fitness facility which can be enjoyed year round. Beyond the considerable ‘attraction recreation’ nearby, Seattle is considered one of the best recreational cities in the US, offering a variety of outdoor fresh and salt-water fishing, boating, swimming, and scuba diving. Hiking can be enjoyed in area parks and mountains; skiing and mountain climbing can be pursued in the nearby Cascades. Golf and tennis facilities are within an hour’s drive.

What kind of additional services do you offer for business travelers?

Available services include a 24-hour lobby located business center, Valet or self-parking (paid), Express check-out, secretarial services (copies, faxes, shipping boxes), 24-hour in-room dining service, same day valet dry cleaning service (Mon-Fri) and Concierge service.

Warwick Seattle

Do you have any advantage packs or loyalty program that you offer to your regular and long-term guests?

Warwick Hotels and Resorts offers guests an exclusive recognition program, based on instant gratification and instant recognition. It is not points driven… it is here and now.

Our complimentary membership is replete with perks, privileges and unexpected offers designed to take guests to a new level. As one stays more often their member status will increase. And they will earn more and more benefits to make their time with us even richer.

Member Benefits include (but are not limited to):

• Best Rates Guaranteed

• Member-exclusive Offers including free room nights

• Room Upgrades & Free Premium Wi-Fi

• Early Check-in and Late Check-out

• Complimentary Drinks and Breakfast

Warwick Seattle

How can travelers make their individual or business/group reservations?

In today’s world, there are many booking options for the consumer, and often with the misconception that a better deal can be had elsewhere. We strive to ensure that our public rates offer the public the lowest rate available, whether that be through our website (www.warwickhotels.com/seattle) or by a direct call into our reservations team (1-800-426-9280). We also strive to identify questionable travel websites that offer wholesale rates illegally – rates that look too good to be true. And as previously mentioned, membership in our Warwick Journeys recognition program provides the best room rate deals of all.

For group reservations, much of today’s inquiries come via third parties or planner websites. Again, contacting the hotel sales team directly is very likely going to provide the best room rates for the end user.

As well, for corporate preferred inquiries (annual volume corporate business travel) one should contact us directly for qualification and rate quotations.

We can be contacted at info.seattle@warwickhotels.com, sales.seattle@warwickhotels.com, or by phone at 1-206-219-2241. I can be contacted directly at rnicholson@warwickhotels.com or at 1-206-219-2251.

What are the most famous attractions near Warwick Seattle?

Warwick Seattle is walkable to famous attractions like Pike Place Market, the historic Seattle Waterfront, and Seattle Center (Space Needle, MoPOP - formerly Experience Music Project, Chihuly Garden and Glass, and Pacific Science Center) and several museums. Just two blocks away is the famous Seattle Monorail.

Warwick Seattle

If you have only one weekend in Seattle as a first-time visitor, in this limited time, what are the best things to do?

By day, get cultural at the Pacific Science Center, Museum of Pop Culture, and/or Chihuly Garden & Glass Museum (all at Seattle Center) with lunch at the iconic Space Needle. Finish at the Seattle Waterfront with a ride on the Seattle Great Wheel at sunset, then wine and dine overlooking Elliott Bay. Complete the day with your entertainment of choice at Jazz Alley, Benaroya Hall, The Crocodile, Showbox, or Moore Theatre. After a great night’s rest at Warwick Seattle, visit Pike Place Market for breakfast and shopping, then take in a ballgame or ride a Washington State ferry.

How would you describe Seattle in one sentence?

Friendly, laid back, with great culture, sports, attractions, arts, music, and food/beverage scenes - a great place for outdoor activities with water and beaches on your left, mountains (and more water) on your right and a glistening Emerald City in the middle. Anything is possible.

Thank you Ric for your time.

For more information, please click here to visit the website of Warwick Seattle

This interview was conducted in a Question-and-Answer format. The answers were checked for grammar and punctuation and published without any additional editing. Monday, March 11, 2019. All photos are the property of their respective owners.