The Renaissance M Street Hotel, following an extensive $25.2 million makeover, was transformed into a surreal summer art gallery, complete with entertainment by acclaimed D.C. jazz artist Marcus Johnson, innovative Bar Arts cocktails and delectable culinary touches. Guests stepped into interactive life-size vignettes of famous Renaissance paintings and artworks showcasing the imaginative revitalization of six Renaissance properties � New York, Boston, Hollywood, Sonoma, Miami and Ross Bridge in Alabama on the Robert Trent Jones Trail.  Guests also entered an ethereal �Dream State� room to lounge on signature Renaissance beds, indulge in spectacular desserts and preview the Corcoran�s fall exhibitions � Ansel Adams and Annie Leibovitz: A Photographer�s Life, 1920-2005.

�These are exciting times for the Renaissance brand and for our guests who are discovering new designs, colorful rooms, great restaurants and lounges, and some very fun and creative signature cocktails,� said Rita Cuddihy, senior vice president, Renaissance Hotels & Resorts.  �We have more than 140 properties worldwide, so there is plenty for travelers and locals to experience and enjoy as part of our modern Renaissance.�
 

Former Virginia Governor Mark Warner and Rita Cuddihy, SVP, Renaissance Hotels & Resorts

Renaissance M Street General Manager Curtis Dean with Dick Gregory, Comedian and Social Activist

Managed by Marriott for its owner, a joint venture comprising affiliates of Westbrook Partners and Northview Hotel Group, LLC, The Renaissance M Street Hotel is one of the first properties to finish its multimillion-dollar renovation as part of a $2 billion global investment by the brand�s owners and franchisees (2006 - 2008).  

Additional projects include:

Renaissance Times Square, New York, N.Y.  The hotel, which rises 26 stories above Times Square, is undergoing a $24 million makeover that includes a new urban guest room, stylish bathrooms, in-room technology panel, wireless high-speed Internet and a redesign of the entrance, lobby, lounge and restaurant by acclaimed designer Jordan Mozer.  The redo is scheduled for completion this fall.

Eden Roc, A Renaissance Resort, Miami, Fla.  A legendary oceanfront Florida spa and resort designed by architect Morris Lapidus, Eden Roc, A Renaissance Resort is currently undergoing construction of a new 283-room tower and public space, as well as a full refurbishment of the existing hotel and landscaping, which includes several elegant water elements.  Completion of the renovation is set for early 2008 and the new tower will open in 2009.

Renaissance Hollywood, Los Angeles, Calif.  The ultra-stylish Renaissance Hollywood is a premier luxury property in the movie-making capital of the world. Adjacent to the famed Kodak Theater and steps away from Grauman�s Chinese Theatre, the hotel has just started an extensive renovation of its spa and public space. 

Renaissance Boston Waterfront, Boston, Mass.  Opening December 2007, the new Renaissance Boston Waterfront  will be a sleek and dynamic addition to the South Boston waterfront area, stylishly reflecting the vibrancy and aqua-elegance of Boston Harbor and the ocean beyond.  The hotel is also one block from the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.

The Stanford Court, A Renaissance Hotel, San Francisco, Calif.  Set atop prestigious Nob Hill, overlooking a dramatic city skyline, The Stanford Court Renaissance will undergo a complete renovation, beginning January 2008, that will include the public space, restaurant, guest rooms and meeting space.

La Concha, A Renaissance Hotel, San Juan, Puerto Rico.  Originally opened in 1958 as the La Concha Hotel, the famed 248-room property is located on San Juan�s Condado Beach and is undergoing a complete renovation.  Designed by Osvaldo Toro and Miguel Ferrer, this masterpiece of tropical modernism will re-open this year featuring a restoration of the famous fluted, conch-shaped roof restaurant. 

Renaissance Carambola Beach Resort, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.  Originally opened as a Rockresort by Laurence Rockefeller in the 1960s, this spectacular property is undergoing extensive renovation of its guest rooms, public space, landscaping and restaurants. Scheduled to open later this year, the resort is situated on Davis Bay along St. Croix�s north shore near the renowned Robert Trent Jones-designed Carambola Golf Course, where Renaissance guests will have playing privileges.

Renaissance Shanghai Zhongshan Park Hotel, Shanghai, China.  Scheduled to open in 2008, the 680-room hotel will occupy the top 35 floors of a distinctive 60-story tower with a breathtaking sky lobby.  The hotel will be part of a mixed-use complex that will include retail and office space.

As Renaissance continues to grow, guests are encouraged to experience the brand�s many unique destinations and discover the culture, art and style of each hotel and its surroundings. The brand is committed to enhancing the experience of travel through individualistic properties that embrace stylish design, attentive service, creative culinary, reassuring quality and sophisticated technology.

The Renaissance M Street Hotel is located at 1143 New Hampshire Avenue, NW in Washington, D.C.   For reservations and more information, call (202) 775-0800 or visit www.renaissancehotels.com.

For more information about the Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art + Design, visit www.corcoran.org.

Renaissance Hotels & Resorts is an upscale brand providing full-service accommodations with local flair to discriminating business and leisure travelers at more than 140 properties in 28 countries.  The brand�s presence is strong in the U.S. and worldwide, with approximately half of its properties in North America and half throughout Europe, South America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Asia. 

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE: MAR) is a leading lodging company with nearly 2,900 lodging properties in the United States and 67 other countries and territories.  

Colleen Evans
(301) 380-8257
[email protected]