Residence Inn Fairfax City Cuts Ribbon Following Recent Renovation

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — Local elected officials and business leaders joined the management of Residence Inn Fairfax City on Wednesday for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Billed as a "grand re-opening," the event was to mark the completion of the hotel's recent renovation.

General manager Kristin Feenstra described the renovation as a "refresh" rather than a total makeover of the property.

"We did some refreshed updates, a brand new carpet, new wallpaper, a few new furniture fixtures, that sort of thing," she said. "Not a ton, but enough to freshen the building up."

The renovations extended to all 155 sleeping rooms and the hotel's public spaces, including the lobby and main meeting room.

"We did add one meeting room, a small one for little groups, and then we finished up our new patio," Feenstra said.

"The Residence Inn is a beautiful property. It's high quality" said Jennifer Rose, the executive director of the Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce. "We don't have a ton of hotels in the city and this is definitely one of our flagships, so kudos to them for a beautiful renovation."

Since its opening in 2011, the Residence Inn has sat at the northern gateway to Fairfax City at 3565 Chain Bridge Road.

"We do have a wonderful location," Feenstra said. "We're right in the heart of Fairfax County. But, even more importantly than that, we're right in Fairfax City. So we have all of the charm of the downtown Fairfax City and are so close to George Mason."

As a sign of how much Residence Inn and its owner Marriott Bonvay Hotels value the proximity of George Mason University, the Fairfax location has partnered with George Mason to hire students and support their needs for sleeping or meeting rooms, according to Feenstra.

As evidence of that partnership, George Mason art student Brianna Camp had set up an easel in the lobby on Wednesday, so that she could provide a painting demonstration during the ceremony.

In addition, Cristian Perez of GMU's Dewberry School of Music performed on guitar and was accompanied by violinist Susan Jones of the Susan Jones Jazz Quartet.