MIAMI J.W. Marriott Jr., chairman/CEO of Marriott International, officiated two Marriott hotel grand openings here Wednesday, bringing Marriott s total presence in the area to 15 properties.
The two properties joining the system included the J.W. Marriott owned by MDM Hotel Group and the Miami Beach Marriott, South Beach, owned by Komar Investments.
HOTEL BUSINESS. attended the ceremonies, along with community representatives including Miami Beach Mayor Joe Carollo and Miami Beach Mayor Neisen Kasdin.
Marriott kicked off the gathering at the South Beach boutique-like property by welcoming attendees to Marriott s first hip hotel. He said that while the hotel is not my father s hotel, he said that he believes his father would have loved this.
The Miami Beach Marriott is styled as a boutique hotel with chic design elements that stray from the traditional Marriott hotel environment. The J.W. Marriott, larger in size, features more of an upscale environment, with accents and services likening it to a luxury property.
During his speech here, Marriott noted that the company is working on adding several more properties in the area a Ritz Carlton up the street, he said, along with a Marriott hotel in Biscane and Coconut Grove.
HOTEL BUSINESS. also learned that Marriott is constructing a new hotel in Sawgrass, FL, that will also be styled as a boutique property, under the direction of Duncan & Miller designs, according to R. Scott Boyd of Duncan & Miller. (10/5/00) Diana M. Rodriguez