Gunter Hotel reopens after $57M revamp

$Reopened Gunter Hotel, a Tribute Portfolio landmark, shown after a \$57 million renovation in downtown San Antonio.$

Published on Sep 24, 2025, 4:02 pm CDT

4 min read

San Antonio's 116-year-old Gunter Hotel has reopened to the public after a $57 million renovation, returning under Marriott Bonvoy's Tribute Portfolio. The first phase brings refreshed rooms, a vinyl-forward amenity set, and two new venues, with more openings to follow later this year. The project aims to restore the landmark's Beaux-Arts character while adding contemporary comforts and renewed neighborhood energy.

Key Points

Why it matters: A $57 million restoration returns a historic River Walk icon with modern amenities.
Travel impact: 311 rooms, including 30 suites and 14 ADA rooms, plus a rooftop pool and new dining.
What's next: Additional venues, the recording studio, and Bar 414 reopenings will phase in through 2025.
Tribute Portfolio placement adds Bonvoy earn and redeem options at a storied address.
Design by DLR Group blends Beaux-Arts details with mid-century accents and modern baths.

Snapshot

The reimagined property features 311 guest rooms, including 30 suites and 14 ADA rooms. Rooms add record players, with a curated lobby vinyl library topping 900 albums and a Vinyl Ambassador for recommendations. New and refreshed amenities include a rooftop pool, a 24-hour fitness center, and more than 20,000 square feet of meeting space. Jots is serving breakfast from 700 a.m. to 1100 a.m. daily, and Keystone Club pours cocktails from 300 p.m. to 1000 p.m., both on limited menus ahead of full launches. The hotel participates in Marriott Bonvoy and will continue phased openings into late 2025.

Background

Opened in 1909, the Gunter is woven into American music history. Blues legend Robert Johnson recorded his first sessions in Room 414 in November 1936, a moment the hotel honors through Bar 414 and in-room turntables. The latest overhaul began in 2023, focusing on infrastructure, guest-room layouts, and public spaces while preserving original motifs. The redesign, led by DLR Group, layers mid-century influences over the building's Beaux-Arts bones to balance nostalgia with present-day function. The revival also supports the ongoing refresh of downtown's Houston Street corridor, where historic assets are seeing renewed investment.

Latest Developments

Rooms, dining, and vinyl-forward amenities roll out

Phase one opens guest rooms and select public spaces, plus two new concepts. Jots, set in inkwell blue with leather banquettes and hand-sketched motifs, currently serves breakfast while final menus are staged. Keystone Club centers a fluted brass bar beneath art deco-style chandeliers and operates 300 p.m. to 1000 p.m. on a soft-opening menu. A 900-plus record collection anchors the lobby, and every room includes a record player and a copy of Johnson's first album. A rooftop pool and 24-hour fitness center are live, with the recording studio and the speakeasy Bar 414 to follow in the coming months. Paris Baguette will debut its first San Antonio location inside the hotel, with a soft opening targeted for October and a wider launch in November.

Analysis

Marriott's placement of the Gunter under Tribute Portfolio extends a broader push into character-rich, conversion-friendly lifestyle flags that resonate with leisure and bleisure travelers. The renovation's emphasis on story, especially the Robert Johnson connection, gives the property a memorable hook within a competitive downtown market. The vinyl library and in-room turntables differentiate the stay experience without straying from Tribute's independent-minded ethos. For loyalty members, the reopen adds another Bonvoy option in central San Antonio at a time when Marriott is expanding across lifestyle tiers, from Autograph and Tribute to W and The Luxury Collection. Related portfolio moves, such as Marriott's citizenM acquisition and recent Luxury Collection reopenings, suggest continued appetite for design-led assets that can scale through soft branding while keeping local texture. For travelers, the near-term caveat is phasing. Some venues are on limited menus and hours until final launches, so check dining plans when booking and expect the experience to broaden as the calendar advances. Overall, the renovation positions the Gunter to reclaim iconic status and drive fresh foot traffic on Houston Street. See also our Marriott coverage, including Marriott Finalizes citizenM Acquisition, Adds 37 Hotels and Colony Club Barbados Reopens under The Luxury Collection.

Final Thoughts

The Gunter Hotel's careful restoration balances heritage and modern utility, which is the Tribute Portfolio sweet spot. Travelers get location, character, and a point-earning path, with new venues stepping online through the year. If you value sense of place, consider timing your stay for later phases when the recording studio and Bar 414 are live, or lean into the soft-opening calm now and explore the River Walk between breakfast at Jots and an evening at Keystone Club. Either way, the reboot makes a strong case for a return visit to the Gunter Hotel.