Source: Marriott International
Source: Marriott International

New York, NY - On the heels of Midtown Manhattan's boldest new hotel opening, Moxy NYC Chelsea, Marriott International's experiential Moxy Hotels announced today the launch of A.S.M.R. Bedtime Stories, which will be available exclusively in-room at Moxy Chelsea for one month beginning April 15th. Known as an alternative to guided meditation and a drug-free mental massage, Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (A.S.M.R.) is a sensory phenomenon where viewers feel pleasurable tingles from specific visual, auditory and haptic triggers.

The limited-edition in-room videos - co-created with noteworthy A.S.M.R. Spa Whisperlodge - are the latest installment of Moxy Hotels' global signature Bedtime Stories program, which features cheeky 60-second stories under the themes "chill out," "go out" or "pass out" for guests at all Moxy Hotels to listen to in their bedroom. This first-of-its-kind hotel feature encourages guests to watch to help them wind down after a day of hustling, partying or pounding the streets of New York. The A.S.M.R. journeys are performed by actress-author-musician Bella Thorne, Dani Thorne, (COM3T) and singer Caroline Vreeland, who each tell a titillating Bedtime Story while interacting with playful props that reflect their personalities - everything from pizza, to candy, to sequins.

"Taking part in these A.S.M.R. Bedtime Stories was very stimulating. I want Moxy Chelsea hotel guests to feel like they are right there with me, sharing my meal," said Caroline Vreeland.

To celebrate the new spin on Moxy's signature Bedtime Stories, guests at the opening party for Moxy Chelsea were invited to take part in a one-night interactive A.S.M.R.pop-up in the hotel's Mondo Suite, created in collaboration with Whisperlodge. The immersive experience transported guests on an up-close-and-personal sensual journey that connected them with the hotel and its surroundings. As the doors opened, pink light spilled out into the corridor and ambient garden sounds inspired by the Avant-Garden theme swelled in the room. A mesmerizing back-brushing ritual using florals unfolded before guests. Then, the live storytelling began, with a playful tale about the ultimate girlfriends' birthday staycation at Moxy Chelsea. The intimate performance engulfed guests with brain tingles using fun props that ignited pleasurable sounds - from a hand running over a sequined dress, to the fizz of champagne, the crinkling of cellophane and the strike of a match.

In neighboring bedrooms, guests interacted with the lights, sounds and sensations used in A.S.M.R., such as being blindfolded and feeling a room covered in grass and flowers. Partygoers were also able to create their own shareable A.S.M.R. video with the help of Whisperlodge experts.

"Moxy is a brand known for stimulating guests at our hotels with bold immersive art - from our 'Hotel Heist' theatrical performance in Frankfurt where blindfolded guests were escorted into a bedroom to hear thrilling stories; to our live 'Pink Bear' in Berlin, inspired by artist Paul Robinson's 'The Pink Bear' art series, which is best known for being featured in Cara Delevingne's #Art4Animals campaign," said Toni Stoeckl, Vice President, Distinctive Select Brands for Marriott International, and Global Brand Leader, Moxy Hotels. "This latest installment of our Bedtime Stories series feels undeniably Moxy - pushing the boundaries in a fun, playful way, and giving guests something they won't experience at any other hotel. We're thrilled to be exclusively debuting the videos at Moxy Chelsea, Moxy's new secret garden in the heart of New York City's Chelsea Flower Market."

"Whisperlodge delivers care, relaxation and sensory exploration through carefully-crafted immersive experiences," said Melinda Lauw, Co-creator & Artistic Director of Whisperlodge. "We love Moxy's vibrant. playful energy and we're so excited to partner with Moxy Hotels and Moxy Chelsea to bring our unique blend of art and wellness to guests at Manhattan's most exciting new hotel."

Note on forward-looking statements: This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of federal securities laws, including the number of properties the company may add in future years and similar statements concerning possible future events or expectations that are not historical facts. We caution you that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including changes in market conditions; changes in global and regional economies; supply and demand changes for hotel rooms; competitive conditions in the lodging industry; relationships with clients and property owners; the availability of capital to finance growth and refurbishment; and other risk factors that we identify in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K or quarterly report on Form 10-Q. Any of these factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations we express or imply here. We make these statements as of the date of this press release, and we assume no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Marriott International

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 8,100 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 139 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy®, its highly awarded travel program. For more information, please visit our website, and for the latest company news, visit Marriott News Center. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram.