The Renaissance Grand Hotel was developed by Historic Restoration Inc., of New Orleans in partnership with Kimberly-Clark Corporation of Dallas, Texas. Historic Hospitality Investments, a subsidiary of Kimberly-Clark, owns 85 percent of the Renaissance Grand property.

The Renaissance Grand Hotel is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1982 and winner of an architectural award from the St. Louis Art League. Vacant for nearly 20 years, the building was formerly a Statler Hotel built in 1917 and has been restored to preserve its original architectural charm, and the authenticity of the interior has been maintained, including the lobby, three-story atrium and two-story rooftop Crystal Ballroom.

The 918-room hotel is located next to the America's Center convention complex. Together with the 165-room Renaissance St. Louis Suites that opened last year across the street, the hotels position the city to better compete for convention business. In addition, the Renaissance Grand Hotel is an anchor for the city's redevelopment of the downtown Washington Avenue corridor.

At today's ceremony, Mr. Marriott said, "I'm very proud that Renaissance can count itself as an active, contributing member of this wonderful St. Louis community. Indeed it's an honor that this new hotel and the recently opened Renaissance St. Louis Suites are both part of the exciting Washington Avenue urban revitalization project."

The Renaissance Grand Hotel will offer two restaurants. Capri is a Mediterranean restaurant situated in the atrium. At the street level in the old hotel lobby, Post & Sons, serving French cuisine, will open this summer.

The Renaissance Grand Hotel contains nearly 50,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, including the 20,203-square-foot Majestic Ballroom. Additional function rooms include the 11,053-square-foot Landmark Ballroom and 4,645- square-foot, two-story rooftop Crystal Ballroom. The Crystal Ballroom boasts vaulted ceilings and 22-foot windows, offering views of the city. A Kinko's business center is on site.

The Renaissance Grand Hotel is located at 800 Washington Avenue and reservations can be made at www.marriott.com or 1-888-236-2427.

Renaissance Hotels and Resorts, located throughout the North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, is a distinctive full-service hotel brand designed to enhance the enjoyment of its guests. Renaissance guests can expect stylish environments; crisp, attentive service; and contemporary restaurants that feature well-defined quality dining experiences.