A focus on hosting brilliantly makes the difference at Marriott Kingsgate Conference Center, according to Catherine Totman, assistant general manager of the strategically located lodging property.

The Marriott Kingsgate is located near both the hospital/medical center of Greater Cincinnati, and the University of Cincinnati, and is but a few minutes from Cincinnati’s downtown grid.

“We have to anticipate the needs of our guests and then do more—take that anticipation to the next step in providing service that matters to our guests,” Totman said.

The Kingsgate Marriott serves the needs of many parents and loved ones who are with those receiving medical treatment at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, University Hospital, or other hospitals in the area.

Those guests of the hotel need special TLC, says Totman. “Say a family has a sick child and is here spending most of the day at the hospital. They may be there (at the hospital) late, and we look at it as part of our job to assure the family will have a meal when they finally do come back to us for the night. We may prepare some sandwiches or salads, or do other things that will help them get through the trying times with the least amount of hassle possible. If we can unburden them in any way, we will do it. Part of that is anticipation of their needs without asking.”

The Marriott Kingsgate also has a shuttle that transports guests to the hospitals and to UC. The convenience of the shuttle makes getting back and forth much easier for guests, along with avoiding the need to find and pay for parking.

Concierge Caitlin Halsted helps many guests attending local conferences or business activities with finding and taking advantage of Greater Cincinnati’s amenities. She assists in procuring tickets for local events, such as Broadway series performances, and sporting events, such as Reds baseball games. She recommends restaurant destinations and makes arrangements for dining at some of Cincinnati’s hottest spots, such as famous ribs dinners at Montgomery Inn at the Boathouse, overlooking the Ohio River.

For guests who want to eat in the hotel, Marriott Kingsgate features two restaurant options for dining: the Caminetto fine-dine restaurant and the Bearcat Lounge, where food and beverages are served in a more relaxed atmosphere. Caminetto serves Euro-American cuisine from its menu, and features a customized buffet that changes every day. The buffet is loaded with hot and cold items to please almost every palate. Also, vegetarians will find a special menu with plenty of personalized choices. In addition, there is an ala carte menu that allows guest diners to customize sandwiches, salads and entrée choices to their individual tastes. Room service also is available.

In both restaurants, the menu changes with the seasons to take advantage of seasonal favorites and seasonal bounty. The seasonal approach and local/regional procuring focus adds to the commitment the hotel has to environmental quality and sustainability.

“We work at figuring out why our guests are here at our hotel, and then work even harder to anticipate and meet their needs, based on their reason for staying with us,” said Halsted.