New Marriott Event Space Opens in Downtown Detroit, But Without the Hotel

While most Marriott convention facilities require that a minimum number of rooms must be booked to secure meeting space, the Department at Hudson’s in downtown Detroit is a new and rare exception.

That’s because its companion hotel, the 227-room EDITION, won’t open until 2027.

The event space, which opened on Memorial Day, is being marketed and sold by Marriott International, and planners receive Marriott Bonvoy Events points for bookings. Forte Belanger, a Detroit area special event design and catering firm, manages the events and is the exclusive food and beverage provider.

The three-floor, 56,000-square-foot venue can accommodate events of up to 2,000 attendees. It lies within The Hudson’s, a newly developed skyscraper on the site of the former J.L. Hudson’s flagship department store, which was demolished in 1998.

The upcoming EDITION, downtown Detroit’s first five-star hotel, will occupy all 45 floors of the tower, along with the EDITION Residences. It will include four food and beverage outlets, a pool, a fitness center and spa, and its own 16,000 square feet of event space.

Since its opening, the Department at Hudson’s has hosted a range of corporate and association events, everything from executive retreats to large-scale conferences. “While a strong portion of The Department’s current event business is driven by local and regional organizations, the venue is already capturing significant interest from national and international clients,” said Trina Anthony, Director of Sales and Marketing at Marriott International for The Department at Hudson’s. 

For now, meeting attendees are staying at several properties within walking distance, including The Shinola, The Westin Book Cadillac, ROOST Detroit, and the Hotel David Whitney. 

The number of events coming to Detroit is only expected to grow, according to Visit Detroit, with 2026 bookings including the APA National Planning Conference, SHA’s Conference on Historical and Underwater Archaeology, the 5th International Placemaking Week, and the ITS America Conference & Expo. Visit Detroit reported that a total of 167 groups were serviced in 2024.

“Detroit is undergoing a remarkable renaissance. Once known primarily for its automotive legacy, the city has reinvented itself as a hub of innovation, culture, and creativity,” said Anthony. “That momentum is only expected to accelerate with the opening of The Detroit EDITION in 2027.”