Some hotels preserve history behind glass. The Gunter Hotel invites you to step inside it, sleep among it, hear it come to life through a record player, and add your own memories to a story more than a century in the making.

Now, that remarkable story is entering an exciting new chapter.

Following a landmark $57 million transformation, The Gunter Hotel has officially joined Marriott Bonvoy’s Tribute Portfolio, a global collection of independent hotels recognized for captivating design, sincere service, vibrant social spaces, and meaningful connections to their destinations. The transition introduces The Gunter to a wider community of travelers while preserving the unmistakable personality that has made the hotel a San Antonio landmark since 1909.

A Transformation More Than a Century in the Making

The Gunter first opened on November 20, 1909, becoming the largest hotel ever built in San Antonio at the time. Over the generations that followed, its rooms, ballrooms, restaurants, and gathering spaces became part of the city’s social and cultural history.

That legacy remains at the heart of the experience, but the hotel guests encounter today has been thoroughly reimagined. The recent renovation introduced a fresh approach to design, comfort, dining, and entertainment while retaining the building’s historic character.

Across  311 thoughtfully designed rooms, including 30 suites, modern details meet references to the people and moments that shaped the property. Premium bedding, curated artwork, record players, and access to the hotel’s Vinyl Library make each stay feel connected to a story that could only belong to The Gunter.

This balance between independence and connection is also central to Tribute Portfolio. Rather than asking its hotels to fit a single mold, the collection celebrates properties with individual identities, striking design perspectives, authentic service, and spaces that bring travelers and local communities together.

For The Gunter, joining Tribute Portfolio is not about becoming something different. It is an opportunity to share more of what has always made the hotel distinctive.

San Antonio’s Musical History Is Still Playing

Few hotels can claim a musical story as influential as The Gunter’s.

In November 1936, blues musician Robert Johnson held his first recording session in Room 414. That moment became an enduring part of American music history and continues to shape the hotel’s identity today.

The connection is now woven throughout the guest experience. Each room features a record player, while the curated Vinyl Library allows you to select albums to enjoy during your stay. A state-of-the-art recording studio gives present-day musicians a place to create, and weekly performances keep live music moving through the property.

The story continues at Bar 414, the hotel’s speakeasy-inspired cocktail bar named for the room where Johnson recorded. With craft cocktails, live performances, and an atmosphere shaped by the blues, it turns an important piece of the past into a living part of a night in downtown San Antonio.

A Hotel Made for Gathering

Tribute Portfolio hotels are known for social spaces that create energy and encourage connection. At The Gunter, that spirit unfolds across four distinctive dining and drinking experiences.

Jots brings locally inspired American dining to a welcoming, polished setting. Keystone Club offers cocktails and light bites in the heart of the lobby, while Bar 414 creates a more intimate after-dark experience. Paris Baguette adds handcrafted pastries, cakes, breads, and café favorites to the mix as the bakery brand’s first San Antonio location.

Together, these spaces allow the hotel to remain what it has been for generations: a meeting point for travelers, artists, neighbors, celebrations, and spontaneous evenings in the center of the city.

Celebrate the Next Chapter with Up to 26% Off

To mark its official Tribute Portfolio debut, The Gunter has introduced Restored. Reimagined. Remarkable., a limited-time offer designed to let you experience the transformation firsthand.

The offer includes:

• Up to 26% off the Best Available Rate
• A champagne toast for two upon arrival
• Access to the Vinyl Library, with albums available to enjoy during your stay
• Access to weekly live music
• Late checkout, based on availability

The package is available to book through December 31, 2026. It’s more than a discounted stay. From the first champagne toast to the final song playing in your room, every inclusion reflects the history, creativity, and renewed energy of the hotel.

 View the Restored. Reimagined. Remarkable. offer »

Independent in Spirit, Connected to Marriott Bonvoy

As a Tribute Portfolio property, The Gunter retains its independent character while becoming part of Marriott Bonvoy’s extensive global network. Marriott Bonvoy members can earn and redeem points during eligible stays while enjoying access to the program’s benefits, destinations, and experiences.

The hotel also remains a proud member of Historic Hotels of America, continuing its commitment to protecting the stories and traditions that have defined the property for more than 116 years.

The name may now read Gunter Hotel, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, but the spirit remains unmistakably its own. The hotel will remain a place where San Antonio history, music, cocktails, conversation, and independent character meet, and we can’t wait to invite even more local and international guests around the world to discover it.

Explore the rooms and suites, discover the latest hotel offers, and experience a legendary hotel entering its most remarkable chapter yet.

Because some legends only get better with time.