Past Issues
Only since 1999 have visitors been able to spend the night on campus in a first-class hotel. The Kingsgate Marriott Conference Center opened 15 years ago in conjunction with the adjacent University Hall and an underground parking garage that connects both buildings.
Located on Goodman Drive close to the College of Nursing’s Procter Hall, the eight-floor hotel has 206 rooms, eight suites, a large 24/7 fitness center, free high-speed wi-fi, 23 meeting rooms, two theater-style business rooms and a 5,355-square-foot Grand Ballroom. The hotel’s Bearcat Lounge and Caminetto Restaurant have outdoor patios overlooking an artistically landscaped green space, highlighted by sculptures and an expansive water feature.
Guests come for the food, though, not just for the setting. The Caminetto chef grows fresh herbs and peppers on-site and tends beehives on the roof, from which he gathers fresh honey. Such extraordinary steps reflect offerings above the ordinary: pumpkin risotto, butternut squash puree, truffle shoestring fries, brick-oven pizzas, eggplant lasagna, homemade corned-beef hash, smoked meats, gourmet burgers and vegan choices.
An extensive buffet breakfast is available daily and a gourmet lunch buffet on Mondays through Fridays until 2 p.m.
