A 1909 Texas Hotel With Its Own Recording Studio Just Joined a Marriott Collection
One of San Antonio's oldest hotels, fresh off a $57 million redo, has picked up a new affiliation built around local character.
The Gunter Hotel in downtown San Antonio has joined Marriott's Tribute Portfolio, the group's collection of independent, character-driven boutique hotels. The 311-room property confirmed the move this week, capping a turnaround that began with a $57 million renovation and a 2025 reopening.
First opened in 1909 and a member of Historic Hotels of America, the Gunter leans hard into its musical past. The hotel keeps a recording studio, a curated vinyl library and in-room record players, a nod to the recordings made on-site decades ago. Four dining concepts round out the property, including a members-style club and a bakery.
For Marriott, the addition continues a steady build-out of Tribute Portfolio, which now spans more than 185 hotels worldwide. The collection is designed to give one-off historic and boutique properties the reach of a global loyalty program without stripping away the local personality that makes them distinct.
Recent Tribute additions include Le Pavillon in New Orleans and Hotel Thaynes in Park City, Utah, while the Canal House of Georgetown in Washington, D.C., marked Marriott's one millionth U.S. room last year. Joining the collection also plugs the Gunter into Marriott Bonvoy, letting guests earn and redeem points on stays.
The Gunter is part of a wider revival along the San Antonio River Walk, where several historic hotels have recently reopened or begun renovations, a sign that investors still see value in restoring old buildings rather than starting from scratch.
