Courtyard By Marriott
Photo: Art Sidner
Mankato: Courtyard By Marriott Hotel & Event Center
General manager Preston Lougheed began his hotel industry career at age 15 as a bellman and doorman at the Minneapolis Hyatt Regency. After graduating from Robbinsdale Cooper Senior High, he went to a Hyatt hotel in Chicago. He had an “in” with Hyatt.
Said 41-year-old Lougheed in a telephone interview, “My uncle was an early pioneer in making Hyatt what it is today. He started out as a gardener in a Hyatt in California, and worked his way up to general manager and eventually senior vice president.”
After graduating from Wisconsin-Stout in 1997, Lougheed went on to manage hotels in downtown Minneapolis, St. Cloud, Bloomington (Mall of America), and Eden Prairie before landing feet first in Mankato in 2001 at the AmericInn Hotel & Conference Center, owned by David Peters. Lougheed eventually would help manage and develop the Peters-owned University Square Mall across from Minnesota State. Peters also would buy River Place Center (the former Barnes & Noble strip mall) and start Courtyard by Marriott Hotel & Event Center, which opened at River Hills Mall a year ago.
Said Lougheed, “We were successful at the AmericInn (near MSU) because of adding on a ballroom, but it wasn’t big enough. So we decided to build the Courtyard near the Mall. Our Courtyard Event Center is 6,200 sq. ft., and has raised ceilings, state-of-the-art audio and visual, and high-end chandeliers. You get what we call a Minneapolis experience at Mankato price.”
The Event Center does its own in-house catering, including food and beverage. Executive Chef and Fairmont native Brian Olson came from Charley’s Restaurant. The Event Center had 68 weddings on the books this year, and brides currently are booking into 2014-15. The facility does many charity event fundraisers and corporate weekday business meetings.
Said Lougheed, “I love the hotel business and the staff members are like my family. We enjoy welcoming people into our house from all over the United States and world.”
Courtyard By Marriott Hotel & Event Center
Telephone: 507-388-1234
Web: courtyardmankato.com
Location: River Hills Mall, Ring Road
