A New American Town - Bentonville, Arkansas
Tune into Visit Bentonville’s podcast series for a weekly update on all things Bentonville, Arkansas. Hosted by Beth Bobbitt, you’ll hear captivating stories and updates from our city—connecting you with the locals that make this town worth visiting.
A New American Town - Bentonville, Arkansas
Motto by Hilton: What's New in Bentonville Hospitality
Discover the secrets behind the new Motto by Hilton project in downtown Bentonville. Join us for an eye-opening conversation with Matt Disheroon, General Manager, Bailie Sonnentag, Director of Sales, and Steve Palmer, founder of Indigo Road Hospitality, as they share the vision for this unique hotel and restaurant and bar.
Anticipate the opening in August and be the first to hear about the exciting plans for this vibrant new addition to Bentonville. From creating a welcoming space for both guests and locals to food and outdoor offerings, the hotel embodies a spirit of adventure. Learn more at mottobentonville.com
IG: Motto by Hilton (@mottobyhilton)
FB: Motto by Hilton Facebook
You can listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, CastBox, Podcast Casts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, and Podcast Addict.
Find us at visitbentonville.com and subscribe to our newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.
Welcome to A New American Town, a podcast proudly presented by Visit Bentonville. I'm your host, B beth Bobbitt, broadcasting from Haxton Road Studios near the beautiful downtown Bentonville Square. Join us as we share stories, insights, and happenings from our city, connecting you with the locals who make this town worth visiting. So it's a podcast party. Today. I'm here with Matt Disheroon, G general Manager, B bailie Sonnentag, D director of Sales, both with Motto by Hilton Hotels, and Steve Palmer, founder of Indigo Road Hospitality, which will open Junto and Bar Kapu in Motto. Welcome to you all.
Matt Disheroon :Thank you very much, thank you.
Beth Bobbitt:Thanks for being here.
Matt Disheroon :Hello, welcome Welcome.
Beth Bobbitt:So Motto is currently under construction in downtown Bentonville, across from Ledger on Main Street. There's a lot of excitement about this project. It's going to be six floors, 175 rooms, features like indoor bike garage, bar, restaurant and patio. But before we learn a little bit more about the project, let's go around and tell our listeners a little bit about each of you and how you came to be involved with this project, Bailie.
Bailey Sonnentag:Yeah, thank you. So my name is Bailie Sonnentag and I am the Director of Sales for the Motto in downtown Bentonville. I've been in Northwest Arkansas for about 10 years and originally from Kansas City. Late last year I was working for another company, and Hospitality America, who is our management company for Motto, reached out to me via LinkedIn and asked if I would have interest in our Motto as well as our two other projects that will be happening in Northwest Arkansas. I was very interested and I jumped at the chance to start working on the unique properties in Northwest Arkansas and I started with them in late October of 2023. And during that process I actually had the opportunity to reach out to Matt and that kind of segues into how he started with us Great.
Matt Disheroon :Yeah, so Bailie and I have worked together for close to 10 years now. I hired her right out of college Take credit for that but during Bailie's interviewing process she reached out to me for advice on this project, something that she would be a good fit for my previous role. I was on the road every week, traveling for work, managed, supervised nine hotels across the country, and the idea of being able to open a unique project like this in Northwest Arkansas was something that I couldn't pass up. So that's kind of how I got involved, just with not just the hotel, but just with the, the, all the different amenities that the hotel offer. It just is an awesome opportunity to be back here, where my kids went to high school and my wife grew up here as well, so it's great to be back good, yeah, glad you're both back, Steve.
Beth Bobbitt:Steve, w hat about you?
Steve Palmer:yeah, so I'm Steve Palmer, I'm the founder of the Indigo Road Hospitality Group. We are based in Charleston, we operate and own hotels and restaurants throughout the Southeast and you know our relationship sort of starts with Windsor, who's the partner and the M motto development partner. We have two of our restaurants with them in Greenville, O oku, which is our sushi concept, and I in Daco, and so they told me about the Motto. I had done a food event in Bentonville at the 21c. Goodness, six, seven years or right when the 21c opened. So I was familiar with Bentonville. But then, man, when we came out and you cannot meet somebody that lives in Bentonville that is not excited about Northwest Arkansas and that you know, living in Charleston over the last three decades, you know we've gone through a very similar sort of growth and when you are in an environment where everybody is really invested in that way, it's contagious. So I think we're going to end up over the next two years with four food and beverage operations in N northwest Arkansas. So I feel like the Indigo Road is putting down a pretty significant stake and we're excited to be here.
Beth Bobbitt:Wow, I think we got a little teaser there. Well the renderings are absolutely beautiful. Like I said, there's tons of excitement about this project. There is a Motto in New York City, P hiladelphia, and a few other places. What makes this one in Bentonville unique and distinct from the others? Can you describe the overall vision?
Matt Disheroon :Sure, and before I get to that, I want to explain something else. It's kind of a fun fact. So Bailie and I have worked together previously and we were made aware of this project back in 2017, really at its early infancies and the previous company that we worked for were made aware of the project when it was going to be a different brand, so we were kind of involved in trying not to allow it to happen. So it's really cool to now to be on this side of the we're making it happen and actually being part of promoting it into the community. So it's been kind of a change there but, that was great, but the model brand itself caters to more of an urban setting. There's only Four other Mottos in the United States. We will be the fifth motto in the United States, only the eighth in the world. We're the very first new construction M motto that there is. So it's more of an urban location. Typically in the US they're in downtown locations where people come for work and to explore the downtown space. So that's where kind of the M motto urban uh feel came. So our guest rooms are a little different than your traditional room and much upscale, luxury feel, uh, but on a smaller size. So we affectionately call them travel size rooms, um, which then the guest spends time in their room, maybe doing a little bit of work, but spends the majority of their time in the lobby exploring the amenities that we have, from our outdoor experiences to our multiple restaurant options, from Junto to Bar Kapu, and then in the downtown space. Just gets out and sees and feels Bentonville.
Beth Bobbitt:I love that. Well, talk a little bit about the aesthetic, because that seems to be really unique, and the role of art. I did get to see the mural going up on the outside of the building Jesse and Katie and was fangirling over that work of art. So talk a little bit about what's in store.
Bailey Sonnentag:Yeah, so Jesse and Katie did an awesome job on the art on the exterior of the building brings a lot of vibrancy to the downtown area into the hotel. Um, incorporating art in our community is part of M motto. We're really trying to bring B bentonville into the property and kind of be the launch pad to the city. We're excited about pieces going on on the inside as well. We currently have murals going up in our coffee shop and in Bar Kapu in that backyard space, as well as some other art pieces from OzArt and other local artists going on in the property. We're really trying to bring that vibe and the community and our neighborhood to M motto. Our staff is also a conduit to the art community and the things that there are to do in Bentonville. We call them hosts, so they're more than just a front desk associate. They're really your guide to the art, the vibe of the city, the local food scene, and everything there is to offer in Bentonville. Love that angle.
Beth Bobbitt:So Steve talk a little bit about Junto. I understand it's Southeast Asian inspired. Can you talk about the concept and the menu and the atmosphere? Sure. So not to be correct, it's Japanese inspired, which is a little bit different from Southeast Asian cuisine. We are rich in Japanese food. We have eight current open locations of Oku. We'll have 11 by the end of the year. Really felt, like you know, we are very independent spirited and minded and really always try to be sensitive to the markets that we're entering. We feel like Bentonville is the town that is really invested in its local art scene, food scene, drink scene. So, rather than just pop up, number 12, um. We thought it was really important to do a one-of-oneJ one-of-one J apanese concept called junto and um, you know, because we wanted it to be reflective of the neighborhood. We just opened a hotel in Asheville and we opened an Italian restaurant. It's called Luminosa and very similar. We have an Italian brand. That we've done in multiple cities. But when we're in markets where we feel like the community really wants to feel like their food and beverage choices are their own, we felt like it was super important to do something that is connected to the community. We love and are obsessed with Japanese cuisine. Our culinary director won a James Beard Award with the team in Austin, T exas, before joining us and he grew up in Tokyo. Really just an amazingly talented guy. So we really look for a unique menu that's not in our other restaurants. And you know, and you can't see the interior render, I mean, it's just a beautiful, beautiful space. So again, that just not to be repetitive that continued to guide us, that we really wanted to do something that was unique.
Steve Palmer:You know, with the outdoor space, I think there were some early thoughts about, you know, kind of a sports bar vibe and we really wanted to lean into being outside. Um, and I think you'll see, once we're done it's, it's really an escapist kind of space. I mean, our hope is that when you know, when you walk in off the street, if you're not a hotel guest, you're going to kind of feel like you've been transformed somewhere different, but while staying connected to Bentonville. If you look real closely in the Bar Kapu logo, there are mountain bike wheels in the logo. So there's all these little sort of touches where we're sort of saying, hey, yeah, we're a tropical bar, there's going to be hula hoop contests, obviously, lots of run-based drinks.
Steve Palmer:We're doing an outside Yakitori, which is in Japan. Yakitoris are mostly street food. It's kind of like a version of an izakaya, which is a Japanese pub, and so there'll be food cooked outside on the weekends. Lots of fun, just the whole spirit of the place is fun, yeah, and so we really wanted it to feel connected to Bentonville but also be a departure from Junto, and so we're just super, super excited.
Beth Bobbitt:That sounds amazing and I want to reinforce what you're saying. You want to welcome folks that aren't staying at the hotel. You want it to feel like a standalone, in addition to catering to your folks that are staying there.
Steve Palmer:100% I mean sometimes, when I talk about some of our hotels and the fact that Food and beverage is 50% of their total revenue, people are always a little bit surprised. But we never approach a restaurant, and I'm going to say something that's very nuanced, but it's very powerful. We feel like we're just opening a restaurant that happens to be in a hotel instead of a hotel restaurant, and from a positioning point of view, from a marketing point of view, and while, of course, we're going to welcome all of our hotel guests. But our restaurants thrive on being connected to the local community and that is certainly our hope and our expectation here.
Beth Bobbitt:Right, Amazing. Well, everybody wants to know. Is there a grand opening date yet when can we start booking our stays?
Matt Disheroon :so right now, our scheduled open period is the month of A ugust, not don't have a specific date yet. With construction, things can change right at any given moment. So we're sticking with the month of A august as a date for now. So we, in addition to that, we're doing a hiring fair the first couple of days of July 1st and 2nd to bring on all of our hourly teams. So we're super pumped to just see who's out there, who's looking for an opportunity to come to work in a unique environment and somewhere that you can't replicate anything like that in Northwest Arkansas, especially here. And we will also have not failed to mention our outdoor experience retail space we have in the hotel. So if you're a guest or a non-guest, you will be able to book an outdoor experience, whether that's kayak rides, hiking, mountain bike rides, mountain bike rentals from our partner 37 North. That will be in the hotel as well. And we'll also be offering valet parking for our hotel guests and for the restaurant guests as well. So we will certainly cater to more than just one or two people. Anybody that wants to come, we will be happy to make sure we have room for you.
Beth Bobbitt:Yeah, it sounds so welcoming and friendly and accommodating. I also read that it's pet friendly. Is that right?
Matt Disheroon :Yes, yes.
Beth Bobbitt:So no excuses, this is going to be amazing.
Bailey Sonnentag:Right, and as far as the booking goes, to follow up on your question, right now our reservations are open from late October and beyond, so guests can go to our website book online for those dates. However, if anybody has groups or events coming to Northwest Arkansas, I'm taking group bookings from September on so we can do hotel group blocks and I can even connect you with Steve and his team at Indigo Road to book out some reservations in the dining spaces as well right now.
Beth Bobbitt:Wow, i incredibly excitin. Good Well, so I want to wrap with a fun question. We ask all our guests and wondering if each of you would share one or two things. So what does a dream day in Bentonville look like to you? Where would you go, what would you see? What would you eat?
Steve Palmer:So I'm a big outdoor person, so I love playing pickleball, spending time with the lakes, spending time on a bike, so for me it would be all outdoors activities from spending time in local parks, spending time in downtown the F F F first Fridays are amazing, the farmer's markets are also awesome as well, and then, of course, we have lots of food choices at the hotel that are unmatched to anywhere else that will be in our area, so we'll be able to spend time at the hotel, whether it's in the Bar Kapu or in Junto, for dinner.
Beth Bobbitt:Great Thanks, matt. What about you?
Bailey Sonnentag:Bailey. So for me it would be my family and I attending the farmer's market on Saturday morning. We try to go every week as it stands, um, but we enjoy going to do that. And then I really love riding the mountain biking trails in Bentonville. So being able to hop on a trail from downtown and spend some time out on all the miles and miles of trails that Bentonville B bentonville has to offer, amazing.
Beth Bobbitt:So brave Bailey. How about you Steve?
Beth Bobbitt:don't know how much time you spent in Bentonville. You know I've spent a fair amount, not enough, Can't wait to spend more. I what Matt said I'm an outdoors guy. During the summers we my family, my wife and my daughter and I we go out to the west Montana and Wyoming a lot. We have a hotel in Highlands, North Carolina, in the mountains, so we are big outdoors people. Matt said kayak and I perked my ears and went oh, kayak. So I will definitely be booking with the crew at the hotel Sounds like a team building. Sounds like a team building.
Steve Palmer:It sounds like a team building and, all kidding aside, although the shameless plug for Junto. But if you said, Steve, you can eat one cuisine for the rest of your life, what would it be? It would be Japanese food. I travel frequently to Japan, just obsessed with the food culture there, the hospitality culture there. They have a word called emotanashi, which means to wholeheartedly serve our guests. All things Japanese on the food front and getting myself outdoors during the day.
Bailey Sonnentag:Perfect. I'll come hang out with you at Bar Kapu after I ride my mountain bike, Steve.
Beth Bobbitt:That's right. It's like a very full day. Well, I'm counting down the days. I know our listeners are excited too. We can learn more at mottobentonvillecom, and you're also on Instagram, facebook and LinkedIn, is that right? Yep, so, bailey, matt, steve, thank you so much for joining today and giving us the scoop. We'll have to check back in after the opening.
Bailey Sonnentag:Thank you so much for having us Absolutely Thank you Thanks for having me.
Beth Bobbitt:And don't forget, visit Bentonville is here to help you navigate things to do, where to eat and stay and what's going on in our new American town. Give us a follow on social media, sign up for our newsletter and check out our website at visitbittenvillecom. Thanks for listening.