At Motif Seattle, you walk in as a guest but you leave as a friend.
“Who is Motif? It’s a fair question,” Shannon Sheron, general manager of the independent boutique hotel in the heart of downtown Seattle, says. “Motif is for everyone. We exclude no one.” It’s those words that allow one to ease into her Seattle experience with an excitement for what both the upscale hotel and its surrounding area have to offer. With the friendly spirit of the staff and their wish to make you feel at home, you know you’re in good hands.
Immediately upon wheeling luggage through the entrance of the Destination Hotels property, a warm smile and a dash of Pacific Northwest charm welcome you. If that isn’t enough, a glass of wine is placed in your hands as you conclude your check-in and are given the keys to your Seattle oasis.
In hotel years, Motif Seattle is young, having relaunched in June 2014. From top to bottom, the hotel was completely renovated, including the addition of a gorgeous white marble staircase, linking two floors of meeting space. The property’s 318 guest rooms and 10 suites got a $10 million-dollar upgrade in 2017, which likely doesn’t come as a surprise to Seattleites, considering they live in America’s fastest-growing city; the site of construction cranes flying above has become a daily view.
The details in the guest rooms are what make overnight stays at Motif Seattle truly memorable. Homage is paid to Seattle’s iconic music scene, with a pillow perched upon every bed displaying the titles of big hits derived in the city. “We try to wrap in local music to our brand as much as possible,” says the hotel’s director of sales and marketing Heather Eggleston, noting that the curated playlist heard in the lobby features only Seattle-based artists.
The city skyline up against the Olympic Mountains is a sight both nature-lovers and urban sleeks can marvel over. And speaking of those who prefer to get caught up in Seattle’s great outdoors, a vestibule in rooms and suites gives adventurers a place to hang up wet outdoor gear. If a few extra towels are needed to dry off after spending time in the notorious rain, guests are able to simply text concierge services. Motif is where residential comfort and style meet, where unexpectedness and subtleties collide, and where Seattle’s essence is celebrated.
Art is as prominent here as music. Dedicated to the local scene, Motif Seattle explores the community for its Visiting Artist Program and selects an artist to create a special motif for the property. Chosen this year is master glass artist Julie Conway. Her Light Ray piece is obtained from an organic pattern of light and shadows as a result of distorted light through glass. “Similar to a fashion line changing,” Eggleston explains, “we change our motif.”
Those craving a taste of what Seattle’s culinary scene has to offer don’t have to travel far—they’ll find the region’s delicious bounty reflected in the menu at Frolik Kitchen + Cocktails, found on the hotel’s fifth floor. Not only will diners be met with executive chef Adam Stevenson’s vibrant menu, but also with grand fireplaces, LED table tennis, and magnificent rooftop views of Seattle’s Great Wheel overlooking the Puget Sound and beyond.
A short stroll from the comforts of the hotel are some of Seattle’s greatest offerings. Housed at the epicentre of downtown, Motif Seattle’s guests can leisurely make their way to the famed Pike Place Market, taking in some of the city’s beloved treats—including never-ending rows of the season’s latest blooms and freshly-made baked goods from Piroshky Piroshky. If looking to discover other landmarks, a quick jump on the nearby Monorail will take wanderers straight to Seattle Center, which is home to the Space Needle and the Museum of Pop Culture. At Motif, guests can pick up a CityPass, making it easy to see all the desired sights.
A motif can be defined as a pattern that occurs once or several times. The pattern here is that all experiences created are authentic to Seattle. Motif Seattle has no boundaries, no playbook. What the hotel does is work hard for its clients to deliver personalized service. “Our guests tell us what they want, and we create that outlet for them,” Sheron concludes. In the words of hometown heroes Nirvana, at Motif Seattle, come as you are—because you always have a home here.
