More than 150 attendees participated in the topping out of John Q. Hammons' new 228-room/suite Courtyard by Marriott Dallas-Allen Hotel & Conference Center in Allen, Texas. Featured left to right: Dennis Burns, Crossland Construction; Gar Herring, president, The MGHerring Group; Buddy Herring, chairman/CEO, The MGHerring Group; Bob Fugazi, regional vice president, John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts; Mayor Stephen Terrell, city of Allen (Photo by redbutton.tv) — Photo by John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts

ALLEN, Texas & SPRINGFIELD, Mo. | To celebrate progress on its stake in a growing community, John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts was joined by Crossland Construction, The Village at Allen and area officials yesterday for the topping out of the new Courtyard by Marriott Dallas-Allen Hotel & Conference Center in Allen, Texas. Scheduled to open in fall 2009, the nine-story, 228-room/suite hotel and adjoining 15,000-net-square-foot conference center is owned by Mr. John Q. Hammons and will be operated by Springfield, Mo.-based John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts (www.jqhhotels.com), the nation's leading independent builder, developer, owner and manager of upscale, full-service hotels, resorts and suites. The development is expected to represent 125 new jobs in the area with recruitment fairs planned for late summer 2009.

Bob Fugazi, regional vice president for John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, presided over topping-out festivities, recognizing 50 percent completion of the hotel and event space project. Mayor Stephen Terrell, city of Allen, commented on the hotel being the tallest building from Allen to the Oklahoma border, resulting in spectacular views. The more than 150 attendees had the opportunity to sign an 8-foot beam featuring the American and Texas flags flanking a 6-foot evergreen tree to symbolize growth and to bring luck to the venture. Attendees also participated in hard hat tours of the extensive meeting and convention space.

During the event, Fugazi introduced Stacy Polk as hotel director of sales and the first member of the facilities' executive team. An Allen-native, Polk brings extensive experience with Marriott International, Inc., most recently as western region area director of sales, including sales responsibilities for several Courtyard by Marriott hotels. Throughout her hospitality career, Polk has been honored with numerous achievement awards, including the esteemed Steven G. Marriott Sales & Culture Leadership Award, only given to one in 150,000 Marriott associates worldwide each year.

"Celebrating the topping out of the Courtyard by Marriott Dallas-Allen Hotel & Conference Center is a testament to John Q. Hammons' commitment to the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. The property will represent our fifth in the area, all serving as anchors in thriving communities. Stacy's in-depth knowledge of the area and the Courtyard by Marriott brand will help ensure success as we build our property management team," Fugazi said.

Fugazi continued, "Collin County continues to fulfill on its reputation as one of the fastest growing and most affluent areas in Texas. The city of Allen's extensive, new entertainment and retail development reinforces Mr. Hammons' vision of participating in the creation of another vital community."

The new hotel and conference center will incorporate the Courtyard by Marriott brand's new "personalized" and "special" elements, including:

  • Welcome pedestals for seamless associate-guest interaction
  • Cutting-edge technology with relevant information, including 57" LCD TV GoBoardTM with touch screen
  • Private, yet energetic common areas with 20" LCD TVs in media booths; lounge and local library for exploration
  • Functionally stylish lobby areas, including pull-up tray tables and wireless Internet access
  • Stylish and versatile S-counter for coffee bar by day and hot spot by night
  • The MarketTM guest store for convenience and substance

John Q. Hammons' Allen hotel and conference center complex is conveniently situated just 25 miles from downtown Dallas at 210 East Stacy Road in The Village at Allen. The Village at Allen, which opened in October 2008, is one component of The MGHerring Group's 3-million-square-foot, regional, mixed-use lifestyle center located in both Allen and Fairview, Texas. The Village at Allen is being developed in conjunction with sister project The Village at Fairview. Upon completion, the entire project will span 400 acres and include 2 million square feet of retail and 1 million square feet of office, residential and hotel space.

The hotel and conference center complex is adjacent to the new $50 million Allen Event Center, set to open November 2009. With a 7,500-person full capacity, the Allen Event Center will offer a venue for concerts, top touring shows, family entertainment and professional sports, complementing the dynamic shopping, dining and entertainment destination atmosphere created by The Village at Allen. Doug Waugh, new general manager for the Allen Event Center, was formally introduced at the hotel topping-out ceremony.

"We are excited to see the Courtyard by Marriott reach this milestone, bringing us closer to the opening this fall," said Gar Herring, president of The MGHerring Group. "Having a high quality hotel as part of The Village at Allen will complement our shops, restaurants and the Allen Event Center."

Hotel Information

Expected to represent the largest meeting event space in Allen, the Courtyard by Marriott Dallas-Allen Hotel & Conference Center will offer flexible space perfect for functions from board meetings to black-tie affairs. The conference center's 9,300-square-foot ballroom will have a 1,300-person maximum capacity. The hotel will feature the full-service restaurant Courtyard Bistro - Eat. Drink. Connect.TM; The MarketTM with 24-hour access to food, snacks and refreshments; a cozy lounge with a big screen HDTV; business center; indoor swimming pool and whirlpool; and fitness center. Spacious rooms/suites will include work space and separate seating areas and luxurious bedding; microwave and refrigerator; well-lit work desk with ergonomic chair; two dual-line telephones with voice mail; 32' flat panel HDTV; complimentary high-speed wired and wireless Internet access; complimentary daily newspaper; and individual climate control. The property will be 100 percent smoke-free. For more information about the Courtyard by Marriott Dallas-Allen Hotel & Conference Center or to book a group function, call (214) 383-1151, fax (214) 383-1154, or email [email protected].

About Courtyard by Marriott | Courtyard by Marriott is the leading select-service hotel brand in the United States. Providing guests with a combination of casual comfort and time saving services, Courtyard hotels feature large functional guest rooms and are conveniently situated where people travel. All Courtyards now offer free high-speed Internet service to guests. Locations range from airports and office parks to downtown areas and recreational destinations. Several locations feature revitalized historical buildings. Courtyard is nearing 800 hotels worldwide. Courtyard participates in the company's award-winning Marriott Rewards® frequent guest program. Members earn their choice of points toward free vacations or frequent flyer mileage for dollars spent at more than 3,000 Marriott hotels worldwide. For more information or reservations, call the Courtyard toll-free number at (800) 321-2211 or visit the web site at www.courtyard.com.

About The MGHerring Group | With a reputation for design, quality and integrity, Dallas-based The MGHerring Group has developed over 30 major shopping centers and regional malls in the United States and Mexico, totaling more than 24 million square feet of retail space. The MGHerring Group has been recognized with numerous industry awards and is considered by many to be among the top shopping center developers in the nation.

About Crossland Construction | Crossland Construction, founded in 1978, is one of the fastest growing general contractors in the United States. In 2007, Crossland posted revenues of $474 million and is currently ranked 145th in ENR magazine's Top 400 General Contractors in the country. In addition to its Columbus, Kan., headquarters, Crossland operates branch offices in Tulsa, Okla., Rogers, Ark., and Prosper, Texas. Crossland Construction and its subsidiaries have a workforce of over 1,100 employees. More information can be found at Crossland's website, www.crosslandconstruction.com.

About John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts | Springfield, Mo.-based John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts is the nation's leading independent builder, developer, owner and manager of upscale, full-service hotels, resorts and suites, including: Embassy Suites Hotels, Renaissance, Marriott, Radisson, Residence Inn, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Holiday Inn and Courtyard by Marriott brands. With 80 hotels strategically located near demand generators, such as state capitals, universities, airports, corporate headquarters or office parks in secondary and tertiary markets, John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts' properties are dominant in their markets. Over the course of his impressive 51-year career in the hotel business, Mr. John Q. Hammons has developed 206 hotels. For more information about John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts, please visit the company's Web site at www.jqhhotels.com.

Scott Tarwater
417/873-3591
John Q. Hammons