Atari®, a trailblazer in the gaming industry, is launching a new concept for a unique lodging experience combining the iconic brand with a one-of-a-kind video game-themed destination. Announced this week the launch of the hotels is in partnership with GSD Group, a leading innovation and strategy agency, led by founder Shelly Murphy and partner Napoleon Smith III. With this new collaboration, both companies will 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. The initial additional hotels planned in Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, San Jose and our own hometown of Austin, Texas!
Atari Hotels will 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 esports events.
Hotel development and design is being led by Shelly Murphy’s GSD Group and Napoleon Smith III, producer of the wildly successful Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film franchise reboot. True North Studio, a leading 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.
More than 2.5 billion gamers across the world spent more than $152.1 billion (US) on games in 2019 alone; an increase of +9.6% year on year. One of the most distinctive trends in gaming is gamers gravitating toward recognizable intellectual property. Atari Hotels will offer consumers exactly that, marrying the origins of gaming and the future of the booming industry into a fun and unique travel destination.
Again, the first of the Atari Hotels is planned to break ground in 2020 in Phoenix, AZ with initial additional hotels planned in Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago, Austin, Seattle, San Francisco, and San Jose. This is exciting for us Austinites and a great addition to our growing skyline!
For more information about Atari Hotels, please visit www.atarihotels.com.
