Just in time for the holidays, The
Marcus Corporation (NYSE:MCS) is proud to unveil “The History, Art &
Imagery of The Pfister Hotel” first edition hardcover book to
commemorate the iconic Pfister
Hotel’s 120th anniversary. Distinguished by exemplary and
original photography, the book captures the timeless beauty, hospitable
personality and elegance this world-class hotel has offered generations
since its opening in 1893.
"The History, Art & Imagery of The Pfister Hotel" (Photo: Business Wire)
This historic Milwaukee landmark was built in 1893, and was considered
the “grand hotel of the west.” The vision of its founding fathers,
Charles and Guido Pfister, was to have a “palace for the people” – a
place of heritage, richness and tradition. A grand dame of showplaces
for decades, The Pfister’s reputation for quality, comfort and elegance
enabled the hotel to attract every U.S. President since McKinley, as
well as hundreds of celebrities, sports figures and world dignitaries.
Published by The Marcus Corporation and registered with the Library of
Congress, the book’s 283 pages are filled with breathtaking photography
by Milwaukee photographer Jay Filter. Written by Thomas Jordan and
designed by Steve Biel, both also from Milwaukee, the “coffee table”
book details the hotel’s simple, yet elegant architecture and history,
showcasing ironwork railings and staircases, exquisite chandeliers, the
Victorian front desk that has greeted guests since 1893 and original
paintings collected by Charles Pfister himself. The stunning images tell
the story of The Pfister through its beauty and serenity, which will
never go out of style. The photos take the reader back in time to when
there was a billiards room, barbershop and cigar store, now home to the
relaxing WELL Spa and Salon. The book shares with its readers places
where brides have stood on their wedding day looking down over the
lobby, where guests are greeted daily and where U.S. Presidents have
slept.
“As we celebrate the 120th anniversary of The Pfister Hotel,
a milestone that has only been reached by a very small number of
historic hotels, we wanted to create a one-of-a-kind piece that tells
the story of this elegant hotel and all that it has meant to our guests,
local residents and the Milwaukee community,” said Chris Anderson,
senior vice president of sales, marketing and brand development for
Marcus Hotels & Resorts. “Throughout the creation of the book, no
scenarios were staged and no photos were altered – the book truly
captures the reality and historic character of the hotel. This visual
storybook is a timeless piece and will hold a special place in the
hearts of all of our guests who have fond memories of The Pfister.”
As part of the 120th anniversary celebration, The Pfister
Hotel hosted Historic
Hotels of America’s® annual conference November 19 – 21, 2013. The
Marcus Family was honored with the first ever Heritage Award at the gala
November 21. The award is a special recognition honor presented annually
to an individual, a hotel, an ownership entity, or management company
which has demonstrated an inspirational leadership role in preserving,
strengthening, and honoring its community’s unique cultural and heritage
treasures. At this year’s conference, attendees received a complimentary
copy of the book as a gift from The Pfister.
The commemorative books have been placed in every guest room at The
Pfister and are available for purchase for $49.95 at the hotel. Books
are also available for purchase online from Amazon and locally at Barnes
and Noble and Boswell books. Additionally, the books will be displayed
in over 30 university libraries throughout the U.S., as well as art
museums and public libraries.
“This is a very special year for The Pfister and for all of us at The
Marcus Corporation as our flagship hotel celebrates 120 years of
providing legendary service and luxurious accommodations. Our company
has owned and maintained the hotel for 50 years, and for this and many
more reasons, The Pfister holds a special place in my family’s history,”
said Gregory S. Marcus, president and CEO of The Marcus Corporation. “We
are in the business of creating memories and our associates work
diligently to make our guests’ experience the best it can be. It has
been an honor to maintain and enhance this historic treasure for three
generations, and we are excited to share this one-of-a-kind keepsake
book with our guests.”
Credits
“The History, Art & Imagery of The Pfister Hotel” was the brainchild of
Chris Anderson, senior vice president of Marcus Hotels & Resorts.
Author Thomas J. Jordan is an international award-winning advertising
writer and the former chairman and chief creative officer of Hoffman
York Advertising. He is the author of four top-selling books on
marketing.
Creative Director Jay W. Filter is a retired advertising agency
executive, who after hiring dozens of photographers to execute his
vision, decided to take up the craft himself. He has won countless
national and international awards. Several of his pieces are featured in
college textbooks on Advertising and Marketing and a number of his works
are now archived in the Library of Congress.
Designer Steve Biel is a multi-talented designer/art director in both
print and web-based projects. He has spanned high-level positions at the
Minnesota Orchestra and Minnesota Monthly publications, as well as
having served as director of design and publications at the renowned
Milwaukee Art Museum.
The book was printed by Wisconsin-based Quad Graphics.
About The Pfister Hotel
Built in 1893, The Pfister Hotel has been the premier downtown Milwaukee
hotel for more than a century, and continues to celebrate a tradition of
gracious service and impeccable style; 2013 marks the hotel’s 120th
year as an icon in Milwaukee. The Pfister Hotel was purchased in 1962 by
Ben Marcus, who vowed to renovate the distinguished hotel to its
original beauty. Significant renovations were completed and a new
23-story guest room tower was built. In fall 2012, The Marcus
Corporation celebrated its 50th year of ownership of the
property.
Home to the largest collection of Victorian art of any hotel in the
world, The Pfister is a AAA Four-Diamond property with membership in two
of the industry's leading organizations: Historic Hotels of America and
Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. The Pfister Hotel is
located at 424 E. Wisconsin Ave. in downtown Milwaukee. More
information and updates on the hotel can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thePfisterHotel
and on Twitter
(@PfisterHotel).
Marcus Hotels & Resorts
Marcus
Hotels & Resorts, a division of The
Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS), owns and/or manages 19 hotels,
resorts and other properties in 10 states. A force in the hospitality
industry, Marcus Hotels & Resorts provides expertise in management,
development and historic renovations. The company’s portfolio includes a
wide variety of properties including city-center meeting hotels, upscale
resorts and branded first-class hotels. For more information on the
latest news and updates, please visit: http://media.marcushotels.com
and follow the company on Facebook
and Twitter
(@MarcusHotels).
About The Marcus Corporation
Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., The
Marcus Corporation is a leader in the lodging and entertainment
industries, with significant company-owned real estate assets. In
addition to its Marcus
Hotels & Resorts division, the company’s movie theatre division, Marcus
Theatres®, is the fifth largest theatre circuit in the United States
and currently owns or operates 685 screens at 55 locations in Wisconsin,
Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and Ohio. For more
information, visit the company’s web site at www.marcuscorp.com.
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