HB ON THE SCENE: J.W. Marriott Jr. Leads Desert Ridge Resort Opening With Much Fanfare

PHOENIX— J.W. Marriott Jr., chairman/CEO of Marriott International, celebrated the success of the chain’s 2,500th hotel, along with local officials and hundreds of Marriott employees at an event yesterday at the J.W. Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa here. The 950-room Desert Ridge Resort, the largest in Arizona with the most public space in the state- 100,000 square feet- has been a rousing success since its opening in December, said Marriott. The luxury hotel is owned by CNL Hospitality and operated by Marriott International. Prior to opening, the property had 450,000 room nights on the books. It hosted 20,000 group room nights during its first month of operation at which time it boasted 80% occupancy. The resort is currently running at 100% occupancy and has groups booked through 2009, said Marriott executives. “This property makes a point that there are still markets where if you build the right hotel, you can create business,” said Marriott. He noted that the property, while large in size, has not cannibalized business from local hotels. In fact, it has done the opposite, bringing in new, large group business as a result of the expansive size of its meeting space and accommodations capabilities. “It is a dream come true,” said Marriott during a dedication ceremony for the property. “Before this hotel was built, large groups would not even consider Arizona. Now we have changed all that,” he later noted. The property is a jewel in what Marriott International terms a “special collection of distinctive hotels.” Located on 316 acres in the Sonoran Desert where Phoenix and Scottsdale meet, the resort offers sweeping views of the McDowell Mountains. In addition to its 950 guestrooms, of which 81 are suites, the resort offers two 18-hole golf courses, Marriott’s first Revive Spa, and four acres of swimming pools. And while the resort is large in scale and amenities, “it is designed to be a property that offers success oriented individuals approachable luxury,” noted Julie Moll, J.W. Marriott brand president. To do this, it offers four hallmarks that speak to its customers, she said. These are: approachable luxury, a unique environment, warm service and exceptional food and beverage. “Our research has indicated a real opportunity in this particular segment of the industry- between Ritz-Carlton and Marriott Hotels,” said Moll. All together, there are 27 J.W. Marriott Hotels in 15 countries. Approximately 20 of those are located in the U.S., with the remaining 17 spread out worldwide. The company plans to build on the success it has had with the J.W. Marriott brand to date, said executives at the event. In fact, several more J.W. Marriott projects are in the works, including the Grand Lakes project in Orlando, FL and a J.W. Marriott hotel planned in the downtown Seattle area.