Merrillville, Ind. – March 20, 2012 – White Lodging Services, one of the lodging industry’s leading owner/developer/manager is pleased to announce it has completed the renovation to the 102-room Courtyard by Marriott located at 9409 Stonelake Boulevard and the 110-room Courtyard by Marriott located at 4533 S. IH 35, both in Austin, TX. The hotels, owned by RLJ Lodging Trust, now features the brand’s new Refreshing Business lobby concept, designed to give travelers the flexibility to work and socialize however they choose while on the road.

“From day one, Courtyard has prided itself as a brand that listens to what travelers want from a hotel,” said Janis Milham, vice president, Global Brand Manager, Courtyard by Marriott.   “Guests want more control and choice with services and amenities that create a healthy balance between working and relaxing. We redefined the Courtyard lobby so it invites guests to get out of their rooms to work, socialize or for entertainment, whether traveling alone or with colleagues.”

The open, bright and contemporary new Courtyard hotel lobby welcomes guests with vivid contrasting colors, including blue and orange.  The traditional front desk is replaced with separate welcome pedestals to create more personal and private interactions when guests check in.  This will allow staff to move about to show guests the lobby features and provide assistance.  Flexible seating options range from a communal table in the middle of the action, to more private media booths with high-definition televisions, to a more intimate, semi-enclosed lounge area.

A signature element of the new lobby is the exclusive GoBoard® technology, a 52-inch LCD touch screen packed with local information, maps, weather, and news, business and sports headlines.  Guests can navigate using the touch screen to find restaurants, local attractions and directions.

Guests can connect to free WiFi, and there are ample electrical outlets throughout the lobby to power digital devices.  The enlarged business library features several complimentary computer terminals along with a free printer and separate computer stations dedicated to printing airline boarding passes and checking flight status.

Dining has been completely redesigned with The Bistro – Eat. Drink. Connect.; offering casual, flexible seating; easier access to food and higher quality, healthier menu options for breakfast; and light evening fare, including snacks, wine and beer so guests can unwind.  The Market^TM, a 24/7 shop for snacks, beverages and sundries, is always open for late-night cravings or the allergy medicine you forgot to pack.

Green has been Courtyard’s signature color since Marriott launched the brand 25 years ago.  Now it is even greener with the introduction of a guest recycling program for the environment. Receptacles for paper, glass, plastic and metal will be conveniently located in the lobby.

ABOUT THE COURTYARD AUSTIN SOUTH
Located near the University of Texas, the state capital and 6th Street, Austin’s entertainment area, the hotel is a great if you’re staying for business or pleasure. The Courtyard by Marriott Austin South is located 4 miles from Austin Bergstrom International Airport.

The four-story hotel features the new Bistro restaurant, 560 square feet of totally renovated flexible meeting space that can accommodate 50 people, as well as an indoor pool and Jacuzzi, a modernized state-of-the-art fitness center with brand new equipment, guest laundry, business center and The Market_^TM, a 24/7 shop for snacks and beverages.  For more information or reservations call the Courtyard Chicago Southeast/Hammond hotel directly at (512) 912-1122 or visit the website http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ausse.

ABOUT THE COURTYARD AUSTIN NORTHWEST/ARBORETUM
Located near the retail shops and restaurants of The Domain as well as the Arboretum at Great Hills shopping center, the Courtyard in Austin Northwest/Arboretum is also a short drive away from the exciting shows offered at Cedar Park Center. The hotel is located 18 miles from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. For business travelers, the hotel is a short distance from Austin’s top high-tech software companies including IBM, Dell, Oracle, HP and the J.J. Pickle Research Campus.

The four-story hotel features the new Bistro restaurant, 650 square feet of totally renovated flexible meeting space that can accommodate 35 people, as well as an indoor swimming pool, a modernized state-of-the-art fitness center with new equipment, guest laundry, business center and The Market^TM, a 24/7 shop for snacks and beverages.  For more information or reservations call the Courtyard Austin Northwest/Arboretum hotel directly at (512) 502-8100 or visit the website www.marriott.com/ausnw.

ABOUT WHITE LODGING
White Lodging Services Corporation was established in 1985 and is headquartered in Merrillville, Indiana. White Lodging is a fully integrated hotel ownership, development, and operations company – a recognized leader that has defined and cultivated the ability to achieve consistent, sustainable growth among mid- to large-scale hotels across the country. Its current portfolio consists of over 158 hotels in 20 states and encompasses representation of the following leading brands: Marriott International, Inc., Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Global, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, InterContinental Hotel Group, and Carlson Hotels Worldwide. For more information about White Lodging, please visit www.whitelodging.com or call 219-472-2861.

ABOUT RLJ LODGING TRUST
RLJ Lodging Trust is a self-advised, publicly traded real estate investment trust focused on acquiring premium-branded, focused service and compact full-service hotels. The Company’s portfolio consists of 141 hotels in 20 states and the District of Columbia, with a total of more than 20,600 rooms. Additional information may be found on the Company’s website: http://rljlodgingtrust.com