MEMPHIS, Tenn., - March 31, 2004 - The Home
of the Blues and Birthplace of Rock and Roll brings music to meeting planners'
ears with the long awaited expansion of the 600-room Memphis Marriott Downtown,
the largest hotel in the city of Memphis.
The former 400-room award-winning
hotel will unveil a magnificent $14 million expansion on June 3, 2004,
to include a new 14-story, 200-room tower, complete with guest rooms and
suites boasting incredible 9 ft. ceilings creating a comfortable, spacious
and airy ambiance; 10 Executive Suites; a first floor lobby connector;
concierge floor and lounge; and an additional 5,100 square feet of meeting
space.
In lieu of the recent $95 million expansion of the hotel's partnering
Memphis Cook Convention Center, which includes the 35,000 square foot South
Hall and the |
Memphis Marriott Downtown
250 North Main Street
Memphis, TN 38103 |
2100-seat Cannon Center for the Performing Arts, the city is able to accommodate
90 percent of major meetings held in the United States. "The joint
partnership of the Memphis Cook Convention Center and the Memphis Marriott
Downtown has allowed for a drastic increase in the capacity of hosting
larger conventions, making Memphis the next "hot city" in America," states
General Manager, Doug Edwards. The joint partnership also includes
an exclusive contract for the hotel to cater all events at the convention
center.
Architect, Cooper Carry Inc., located in Gulf Port Mississippi and interior
designer Holly Michelsen of Marriott teamed up on the hotel expansion project.
Owned by Host Marriott and managed by Marriott International, the Memphis
Marriott Downtown is destined to captivate the senses of travelers from
around the globe. Overlooking the Mississippi River in the heart
of downtown, the 19-story hotel boasts approximately 13,000 square-feet
of meeting space with high-speed internet and full audio visual capabilities
to include: 4,700 square foot Heritage Ballroom, an ideal place to host
lavish banquets and creative themed events, and two executive boardrooms
for smaller groups. An additional 300,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit
space is available at the adjoining Memphis Cook Convention Center, including
the state-of-the-art 28,000 square foot Grand Ballroom.
All rooms are specifically designed for business travelers, featuring
high-speed internet access, two-line telephone with data ports, speakerphone
and voicemail, marble bathroom vanity, TV with cable and satellite, in-room
movies, individual climate control, daily newspaper, complimentary in-room
coffee and tea service, hairdryer, iron and ironing board. Additional
on-site amenities include:
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Indoor Pool
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Sauna and whirlpool
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Fitness center
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Room service
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Self service laundry facilities
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Gift shop
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Full business center
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Wireless High Speed Internet access in all public areas on the first and
second floors
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Valet Parking
The hotel also showcases the popular Magnolia Grille Restaurant with a
new menu specializing in southern cuisine, Trolley Stop Lounge where guests
can stop for a drink and appetizers, and Fidalgo Bay specialty coffee bar,
featuring gourmet coffee, espresso and cappuccino. After a long day
of meetings, enjoy a host of evening activities around Memphis, as the
property is a short trolley ride from the award-winning AutoZone Ball Park;
new Fed-Ex Forum; Rock and Soul Museum; world-renowned Beale Street; Mud
Island River Park; National Civil Rights Museum; and just minutes from
the Brooks Museum of Art; Memphis Zoo; and Elvis Presley's Graceland.
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE:MAR) is a leading worldwide hospitality
company with over 2,600 lodging properties in the United States and 68
other countries and territories. |