Chicago is one of eight U.S. cities that will get a hotel branded by Atari, the American video game maker.
Atari® has announced a deal with GSD Group — a leading innovation and strategy agency, led by founder Shelly Murphy and partner Napoleon Smith III — to acquire the rights to build video game-themed Atari Hotels in the United States, with the first location breaking ground in Phoenix, AZ later this year.
Atari is pioneering a unique lodging experience combining the iconic brand with a one-of-a-kind video game-themed destination. Atari Hotels level up hotel entertainment with fully immersive experiences for every age and gaming ability, including the latest in VR and AR (Virtual and Augmented Reality). Select hotels will also feature state-of-the-art venues and studios to accommodate e-sports events, the press release stated.
Hotel development and design is being led by Shelly Murphy’s GSD Group and Napoleon Smith III, producer of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film franchise reboot. True North Studio, a Phoenix, AZ-based real estate developer — currently working alongside GSD Group with Steve Wozniak’s Woz Innovation Foundation — will develop the first Atari- branded hotel.
“We are thrilled to partner with GSD Group and True North Studio to build the first-ever Atari branded hotels across the United States. Together we’ll build a space that will be much more than just a place to stay,” Fred Chesnais, CEO of Atari, said in the press release.
“Atari is an iconic global brand that resonates with people of all ages, countries, cultures and ethnic backgrounds and we cannot wait for our fans and their families to enjoy this new hotel concept.”
More than 2.5 billion gamers across the world spent more than $152.1 billion (USD) on games in 2019 alone; an increase of 9.6 percent in one year. One of the most distinctive trends in gaming is gamers gravitating toward recognizable intellectual property. Atari says the hotels will offer consumers exactly that experience by combining the origins of gaming and the future of the booming industry into a fun and unique travel destination.
“Atari Hotels will be the first of their kind in the U.S., offering gamers of all ages the ultimate in immersive entertainment and in every aspect of gaming. We’re excited to be working on this project with such great partners and to bring a big win to Arizona,” said Shelly Murphy.
The first of the Atari Hotels is planned to break ground in 2020 in Phoenix, AZ with additional hotels planned in Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago, Austin, Seattle, San Francisco, and San Jose. For more information about Atari Hotels, please visit www.atarihotels.com.
GSD Group is an innovation and strategy group with experience in finance, education, entertainment and creating innovative verticals with legacy brands.
