Saint Kate - The Arts Hotel

What Saint Kate - The Arts Hotel does

Saint Kate - The Arts Hotel is a 219-room boutique hotel located at 139 East Kilbourn Avenue in Milwaukee's Theater District, operating under Marcus Hotels & Resorts, a division of The Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS). Opened in 2019 after a conversion of the former Intercontinental Milwaukee, it is positioned as Milwaukee's first arts-focused hotel, integrating a permanent art collection (100+ pieces), a working Artist in Residence program, a 90-seat Arc Theatre black-box venue, and the MOWA | DTN gallery operated in partnership with the Museum of Wisconsin Art.

The property's core offerings span guest accommodation (Deluxe, Premier, Corner King suites, and four Canvas Rooms individually designed by local artists including Reed Skocz and John Grant), five distinct F&B venues (The Studio Kitchen & Cocktails, the Bar, Upper Bar, Proof Pizza, and The Dark Room private dining), and 11,600 square feet of meeting and event space including a 90-seat performing arts theater. Technology footprint is standard hospitality infrastructure: 500MB WiFi via Sonifi, 360° virtual tours, and a digital reservation system with marketing-driven packages. Pricing is positionally upscale, with rack rates ranging from $295-$419 per night, an AARP discount tier, and federal per diem rates from $140 per night.

The business model combines direct-to-consumer hotel revenue (rooms, F&B, events, parking at $33-$45/night, and art programming/exhibitions) with distribution through the Marcus Rewards loyalty program, government and AARP rate programs, third-party OTAs (TripAdvisor, etc.), and earned media coverage in Condé Nast Traveler, USA Today, Forbes, and the New York Times. Customer segments are diversified across leisure travelers, corporate groups, wedding/social events, and performing-arts audiences; group bookings and government business via per diem rates provide a partial counter-cyclical demand cushion typical of urban convention-market hotels.

Name

Saint Kate - The Arts Hotel

Legal name

Marcus Hotels, Inc.

Website

https://saintkatearts.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Saint Kate is a 219-room arts-focused boutique hotel in Milwaukee's Theater District, operated by Marcus Hotels & Resorts, serving leisure travelers, corporate groups, wedding clients, and performing-arts audiences through on-site art exhibitions, five dining venues, and event space.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Boutique Hotel

NAICS

Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (721110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Hotels & Motels (7011), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Art & Culture (Gallery/Museum) Hotels (THAGADAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Boutique Inns (THAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Boutique hotel lodging
• Cultural arts programming
• Event venue rental
• Food and beverage
• Hospitality services

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Hotel Room Rentals: Primary revenue from 219 modern guestrooms and suites with various room categories including Deluxe King, Deluxe 2 Queens, Superior King, Premier rooms, and Canvas Artist rooms designed by local artists. Standard check-in 3 PM, check-out noon.
2. Food & Beverage: Multiple dining outlets including The Studio Kitchen & Cocktails, the Bar, Upper Bar, Proof Pizza, and The Dark Room private dining. Revenue from breakfast, lunch, dinner, cocktails, and special events.
3. Meetings & Events: 11,600 square feet of meeting space, multiple event rooms, 90-seat Arc Theatre black box theater, and ballrooms for conferences, weddings, and private events.
4. Parking Services: Underground paid parking for hotel guests: $33/night self-parking, $45/night valet. Additional day and restaurant valet options.
5. Art Programming: Revenue from art residencies, exhibitions, gallery spaces, and art-inspired packages. Includes art tours, artist in residence program, and MOWA | DTN gallery exhibitions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel is a 219-room boutique arts-focused hotel in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, offering overnight guest accommodations, multiple on-site dining venues, meeting and event spaces, and curated arts programming that integrates rotating visual art exhibitions and live performances into the guest experience. The property was converted from the former Intercontinental Milwaukee building and is owned and operated by Marcus Hotels & Resorts, a division of The Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS).

Product overview

Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel is a boutique arts hotel in Milwaukee's Theater District offering 219 modern guest rooms and suites with local art, record players, and vinyl collections. The hotel features 5 distinct culinary experiences: The Studio Kitchen & Cocktails (signature restaurant), Proof Pizza (Neapolitan-style pizza), the Bar (lobby bar with live music), Upper Bar (riverfront terrace), and The Dark Room (private dining). Additional offerings include 11,600 square feet of meeting space, rotating art exhibitions, the MOWA | DTN gallery, Artist in Residence program, and Canvas artist-designed rooms. The hotel positions itself as a creative hub celebrating art in all forms including painting, sculpture, music, and performance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Studio Kitchen & Cocktails: Full-service restaurant featuring bold, inventive fare with seasonal ingredients, offering breakfast, brunch, and dinner service.
• the Bar
• Upper Bar
• Proof Pizza
• The Dark Room
• Canvas Rooms
• Artist in Residence

Products and services

• Guest Room Accommodations

Quantifiable outcome

• Named #6 Top Hotel in the Midwest by Condé Nast Traveler
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Museum of Wisconsin Art (MOWA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2019Partnership creates MOWA | DTN, a 1,700-square-foot gallery located on the first floor of the hotel. The collaboration offers travelers and guests access to museum-caliber Wisconsin art through 4-5 changing exhibitions, artist talks, and curator talks. Exhibitions are free and open to the public. Shuttle service to main museum facility.
• Marcus Hotels & ResortscoreOthersParent company and brand affiliation providing operational infrastructure, loyalty program (Marcus Rewards), centralized reservations, and cross-selling opportunities across portfolio properties.
• Marcus Loyalty RewardscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHotel participates in Marcus Hotels & Resorts loyalty program allowing guests to earn and redeem points across participating locations including hotel stays, dining, spa services, and more.
• Local Milwaukee ArtistscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with local artists including Todd Mrozinski, Christiane Grauert, Daniel Chung, Linda Lindner, Kelly Frederick Mizer, Ashley Town, Niki Johnson, Ben Fairly, Daniel Arnold, Jason Fricke, Nina Ghanbarzadeh, Reed Skocz, Sara Willadsen, John Grant, and others for Canvas Rooms, gallery exhibitions, and permanent art collection.
• Stonehill TaylorminorOthersHospitality-focused architecture and interior design firm based in New York City designed all four culinary spaces for Saint Kate.
• KohlerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in designing elements at Saint Kate, as featured on Interior Design's DesignTV digital channel.
• Sculpture MilwaukeeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld's largest complimentary art exhibit featuring sculptures from local, national, and international artists. Saint Kate contributes 1% of room rate per night during exhibition period to support the program.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Moxy Hotels: Marriott's boutique lifestyle brand targeting design-conscious millennial and creative-segment travelers. Comparable on tech-forward booking, vibrant F&B, and smaller-room boutique model, though less art-focused than Saint Kate.
• 21c Museum Hotels: Art-immersed boutique hotels with integrated contemporary art galleries, museum programming, and on-site cultural events. Closest direct comparable to Saint Kate's gallery-driven, artist-residency model and 'hotel-as-canvas' positioning.
• Ace Hotel: Design-forward boutique hotels with strong cultural programming, live music venues, and curated local artist collaborations. Overlaps with Saint Kate on arts-focused amenities, lobby-as-cultural-hub concept, and creative traveler target demographic.
• The Pfister Hotel: Historic AAA Four Diamond hotel in downtown Milwaukee with a notable Victorian art collection and artist-in-residence program. Comparable to Saint Kate on downtown Milwaukee location, art focus, and premium positioning, though Pfister is full-service traditional luxury.
• The Iron Horse Hotel: Boutique hotel in Milwaukee's Walker's Point with distinctive themed design, on-site dining, and event programming. Direct local competitor for upscale leisure and corporate travelers seeking memorable, non-chain accommodations in Milwaukee.
• The Standard Hotel: Boutique lifestyle hotels known for distinctive design, vibrant bar/lounge scenes, and cultural programming. Overlaps with Saint Kate on creative positioning, multiple F&B outlets, and emphasis on location-driven guest experience.

Emerging players

• 1 Hotels: Luxury nature-inspired lifestyle hotels with biophilic design, curated local partnerships, and premium F&B. Comparable to Saint Kate on boutique experiential positioning and willingness to differentiate from traditional luxury, though theme is sustainability rather than visual arts.

Regional players

• Hotel Metro: Boutique art-deco hotel in downtown Milwaukee with on-site dining and event space. Local competitor for boutique hotel demand in Milwaukee, though smaller scale and less immersive in arts programming than Saint Kate.
• Emily Hotel: Boutique hotel in Milwaukee's Walker's Point neighborhood owned by local operators. Competes for similar leisure and business travelers in the Milwaukee market, though with a less art-specific positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants: Boutique upscale hotel chain (IHG) with strong art, design, and culinary programming across properties. Comparable to Saint Kate on per-property distinctiveness, partnerships with local creatives, and integrated F&B strategy, but at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxGJl_YELY4-_S4qB4VCmmQ/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/SaintKateArts
• Instagraminstagram.com/saintkatearts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/saintkatearts

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Saint Kate - The Arts Hotel