Case Study
Courtyard by Marriott
Event Branding & Print Design
A Grand Opening Worth Checking Into.
A hotel grand opening is more than an opportunity to introduce a property. It's a chance to welcome the community, strengthen business relationships, and create an experience that guests will remember long after the celebration ends.
For Courtyard by Marriott in South Reno, the grand opening provided an opportunity to bring together local businesses, community partners, and guests for a celebration of hospitality and connection.
To help make the occasion memorable, Ace Studios developed a collection of custom event materials that combined creative design with practical functionality, setting the tone for the celebration before guests even arrived.
From a ticket-inspired invitation to an interactive vendor bingo card, each piece was designed to contribute to a coordinated guest experience while reflecting the professionalism and hospitality associated with the Courtyard by Marriott brand.
The Challenge
Grand openings present a unique marketing opportunity for hospitality businesses. Beyond celebrating a milestone, they allow a property to introduce itself to community leaders, prospective customers, corporate partners, and neighboring businesses.
For Courtyard by Marriott, the event needed promotional materials that communicated the significance of the occasion while generating excitement among invited guests.
A traditional invitation could provide the necessary details, but the hotel wanted an event experience that felt more memorable and engaging.
The celebration also included participating vendors, creating an opportunity to encourage guests to interact with different businesses rather than simply attend the event.
The challenge was to develop a cohesive collection of printed materials that balanced the established Courtyard by Marriott brand with the personality of a special occasion, while helping guests navigate and participate in the celebration.
Our Approach
Ace Studios approached the project with a focus on creating a coordinated experience through thoughtful print design.
We considered how each piece would serve a different purpose throughout the guest journey, from the first announcement to activities taking place during the event itself.
For the primary invitation, we developed a ticket-inspired design that gave the announcement a distinctive presentation. Rather than relying on a conventional invitation format, the creative direction emphasized the excitement of attending a special event.
We complemented the invitation with a save-the-date announcement, creating a coordinated visual experience that could introduce the celebration and reinforce important event information.
To encourage engagement during the grand opening, we also designed a custom vendor bingo card.
The interactive format gave attendees an additional reason to connect with participating vendors and explore the event, turning a simple printed piece into an activity that supported community interaction.
Throughout the creative process, we focused on maintaining visual consistency across the materials while ensuring each piece remained clear, functional, and easy to use.
What We Created
Ace Studios supported the Courtyard by Marriott grand opening through:
Event Creative Direction
We developed a coordinated design approach for the grand opening materials, balancing the excitement of the celebration with the polished presentation expected of a nationally recognized hospitality brand.
Ticket-Style Event Invitation
Our team created a custom invitation inspired by the appearance of an event ticket, giving guests a distinctive introduction to the grand opening while communicating essential event information.
Save-the-Date Design
We designed a coordinated save-the-date announcement that introduced the upcoming celebration and established visual consistency with the event's invitation materials.
Interactive Vendor Bingo Card
We developed a custom bingo card designed to encourage guests to engage with participating vendors throughout the grand opening, adding an interactive element to the event experience.
Print Design and Production Preparation
Our team prepared the event materials for print, considering readability, layout, and presentation to ensure the finished pieces were practical and visually engaging.
The Result
Courtyard by Marriott's grand opening featured a coordinated collection of event materials that helped establish a memorable identity for the celebration.
The ticket-style invitation and save-the-date announcement created a distinctive introduction to the event, while the vendor bingo card added an interactive component that encouraged guests to connect with participating businesses.
Together, the materials demonstrated how thoughtful graphic design could contribute to the overall experience of an event, extending beyond promotion to influence how attendees engaged with the celebration itself.
For Ace Studios, the project highlighted the value of considering every stage of the guest experience, from the anticipation of receiving an invitation to the activities that bring people together during an event.
The result was a collection of creative materials that combined professional hospitality presentation with a little personality.
Because a great guest experience can begin long before check-in.