Wednesday, August 22, 2007

First Texas JW Marriott hotel to be in San Antonio

Nestled in the foothills of San Antonio's storied Hill Country, the 1,002 room JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa is scheduled to open in March 2010 and is already poised to become the Southwest's premiere destination resort. The JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts collection of 36 distinctive hotels in 18 countries offers the ultimate in personalized luxury to the accomplished traveler who expects the highest degree of comfort and style.

"We're excited to see this project underway and can't imagine a better location for this unique property," says Mike Kass, Director of Sales and Marketing for JW Marriott San Antonio. "We offer guests comfort and luxury, which is right at home in the ambiance of the Hill Country and the excitement of world-class city attractions nearby."

Surrounded by the rolling green hills of Texas Hill Country, with dense forests of stately oak trees, the resort will also feature expansive outdoor water playgrounds, more than 140,000 square feet of flexible indoor meeting space, 3 outdoor catering venues, a luxurious spa, a multi-media sports bar and two 18-hole Tournament Players Clubs (TPC) golf courses.

"As a resort property, the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa is sure to become a destination unto itself. It will be the premier luxury resort in Texas offering genuine hospitality and understated luxury that reflects the rich heritage of the hill country and defines the JW Marriott experience," says Kass.

Accommodations

The Resort will offer 1,002 rooms, including 85 suites, and evoke the comfortable style indicative of Texas Hill Country. The spacious rooms will feature custom designed furniture and finishes that make use of hand-tooled leather, copper and ironwork used throughout the property. Spacious bathrooms will feature the space and serenity that visitors expect from a luxury resort experience.

Convention/Meeting Facilities

Only 20 minutes from the San Antonio International Airport, the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa will offer the most expansive event and convention space in the region. With over 140,000 square feet of customizable indoor space, the Resort will have a host of options available to accommodate groups both large and small, including: - 40,000 square foot Grand Ballroom - 40,000 square foot Exhibit Hall - 21,000 square foot Junior Ballroom - 10,000+ square foot Pre-Function Space - 19 Meeting Breakout Rooms - 3 distinctive outdoor venues, ideal for weddings and receptions

Amenities

The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa amenities will redefine the luxury resort experience:

Golf: Designed by two of the most respected forces in the golf industry, Pete Dye and Greg Norman, the 36 holes of championship golf at the Tournament Players Club (TPC) will be both scenic and challenging and promise to rank among the world's best. With construction already underway, the courses are scheduled to open in conjunction with the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa.

Spa: The concept of healing waters and beautiful views will leave Spa guests refreshed, rejuvenated and inspired. The 26,000 square-foot Spa will offer 30 treatment rooms, including two couple's treatment suites with fireplaces. Two outdoor private treatment rooms are available. A complete fitness center will feature the latest in cardio-training equipment, free weights, and stationary weight training equipment. A fitness studio will offer exercise, yoga, and fitness classes. Between treatments, enjoy the peaceful serenity of the private, lagoon-like, spa pool or enjoy healthy refreshments at our Spa cafe.

The Spa Boutique will feature products utilized by our specially trained spa providers as well as sports wear and gift items.

Water Features: The ultimate in outdoor fun and relaxation combines a 650 foot rapid river ride, slides, an 1100 foot long lazy river with children's pools, a serene adult pool, hot and cold plunge pools, whirlpools, and an expansive activity pool.

Restaurants and Shopping: The centerpiece of the resort's dining options will feature authentic Texas cuisine three meals a day. High-end boutiques and shops will be on site for a unique retail experience. The media rich sports bar will be a highlight, putting guests in the middle of the action with its multi-media screens featuring a variety of sport channels.

Additional information: www.jwsanantonio.com

The JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts collection of hotels incorporate dramatic, luxurious interiors with warm, gracious service. Spacious, uncluttered rooms, fine restaurants serving healthy cuisine, and well-equipped fitness centers allow the JW Marriott guest to minimize stress and maintain their personal well-being on the road.

The JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts Collection has doubled in size over the past three years, growing in gateway cities, established business destinations and emerging luxury and resort markets worldwide. JW hotels can be found across the U.S., as well as in China, Ecuador, Malaysia, Indonesia, Mexico, the United Arab Emerites, Bangkok, Peru, India, Egypt, Romania, Italy and Venezuela.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE: MAR) is a leading lodging company with nearly 2,900 lodging properties in the United States and 68 other countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Bulgari brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club, Horizons by Marriott Vacation Club, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Grand Residences by Marriott brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers. The company is headquartered in Bethesda, Md., and had approximately 151,000 employees at 2006 year-end. It is ranked as the lodging industry's most admired company and one of the best places to work for by FORTUNE. The company is also a 2006 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR Partner. In fiscal year 2006, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $12.2 billion. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com.

Contact: Marcie Casas 210.223.2772