Third Courtyard By Marriott Hotel Planned For Paris

Marriott International (NYSE:MAR) is planning to open its third Courtyard by Marriott hotel in the Greater Paris Area in 2006.

The 150-room Colombes Courtyard by Marriott will be located in the Colombes suburb of Paris which is currently undergoing a major urban renewal project that is expected to add about 125,000-square meters of office in the vicinity of the future hotel. In addition, large international companies such as Alcatel, CSF, Snecma, Gesco, Shell, Oracle and Laboratoires Servier are already established in the area. La Defense is approximately a 10-minute drive away.

‘We are delighted by the continued expansion of our moderately-priced Courtyard brand which has been warmly embraced here in Paris as well as our other European markets,” said Arne Sorenson, chief financial officer and president of Continental Europe for Marriott International. “The underlying dynamics of the Paris hotel market remain strong with demand well-balanced between leisure and corporate sectors and a good geographical spread of source markets. We are confident in the future success of this property.”

In discussing the proposed hotel, Colombes Mayor Nicole Goueta said, “There is no doubt that Colombes will be the place to be in coming years. The opening of the 20,000-seat Stadium Yves du Manoir here in Colombes, the candidacy of Paris as the site for the 2012 Olympic Games being clearly on track and the on-going development of new office space, a commercial mall, residences and activity center all combine to ensure the future economic development of Colombes.”

For dining and entertainment, the Colombes Courtyard by Marriott will offer a lobby lounge and casual restaurant. Recreational amenities will include a fitness center. Other planned amenities are a business lounge and an internet library, a convenience store and underground parking spaces for 50 automobiles.

For social events and conferences, the hotel will have 1,400-square feet of space over three interconnecting rooms.

Marriott International is currently represented in Paris by the 192-room Paris Marriott Champs Ellysees, the 331-room Renaissance La Defense, the 242-room Courtyard by Marriott Neuilly and the 300-room Courtyard by Marriott Roissy.