Located at 916 and 904 Dallas Street in downtown Houston, the two hotels are part of a $70 million historic redevelopment project owned in partnership by Kimberly-Clark and Leddy Ventures, Ltd.  Housing Horizons, a subsidiary of Kimberly-Clark, is majority owner. The beautifully restored neo-classical building also houses a new 82-unit luxury apartment high-rise, Humble Tower, managed by Westdale Asset Management of Dallas.

Originally the headquarters of Humble Oil and Refining Company (now ExxonMobil Corporation) and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the building is actually a complex of three phased-in structures.  The original 1921 structure is a nine-story, I-shaped building that houses the Courtyard hotel.  The next phase, a 17-story tower completed in 1936, is now Humble Tower; and the 1940 building is home to the new Residence Inn.

The new Courtyard and Residence Inn are downtown Houston�s first Marriott branded hotels and the first moderately priced and extended stay hotels, respectively, in the city�s revitalized downtown district. Preserved are the Humble Oil Building�s original rose marble, ornately designed bronze elevators and neoclassical architecture. 

There are six meeting rooms between the two hotels, including the Humble Suite, originally the Humble Executive Board Room, with its 25-foot domed ceiling and signature grand marble fireplace.  Occupying part of the 6,000 square-foot street-level commercial retail space is The Humble Café, a casual dining restaurant operated by Courtyard.  Unique among other Courtyards, The Humble Café, open seven days a week to guests and the public for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and featuring New American Cuisine, also provides room service to both hotels and Humble Tower. 

John Parker and Paula Blackwell, general managers for Courtyard and Residence Inn, respectively, say that both hotels fill a needed downtown niche. 

�Inbound downtown travelers will now have two Marriott-branded options,� says Courtyard�s Parker.  �For business travelers and weekend tourists looking for a first-class moderately-priced option in the heart of downtown, Courtyard is now open for business.� 

Added Residence Inn�s Blackwell, �People who need to be here for more than a few days, for either special projects, training or relocation, now have an extended-stay option with all the trappings of home, including a full kitchen.�

Andrew Davis, area director of sales for both hotels, reports great feedback. �Prospective clients and customers have really opened their arms to us.  Beyond filling two needed downtown lodging niches, people are thrilled with the preserved look and feel.  It�s very exciting for Marriott to be part of this part of the city.�

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE:MAR) is a leading worldwide hospitality company with nearly 2,600 lodging properties in the United States and 66 other countries and territories.