White Lodging to Build a 1,003-room Marriott Marquis in Austin, Texas
To be the Largest Hotel in Austin
White Lodging Services Corporation announced today after Austin city council approval of a $4.3 million fee waiver package that it will build a 1,003-room, 26-story Marriott Marquis in downtown Austin. With the project equity commitment already secured through internal sources and with the support of the city, the largest hotel in Austin will be developed and managed by White Lodging and owned by White Lodging affiliates.
Located in the heart of downtown on Congress Avenue between 2nd and 3rd Streets, the Marriot Marquis is two blocks from the Austin Convention Center and poised to take the City of Austin to a new level in the national convention and meeting market. Plans for the hotel include 104,000 square feet of flexible meeting, banquet and exhibition space, multiple food and beverage venues, 374 underground parking spaces, and a 4,500 square foot fitness center.
"We believe this project will make a very positive statement for the City in the eyes of national meeting planners and, in turn, will induce more incremental group business to downtown Austin," said Deno Yiankes, White Lodging's President and CEO of Investments & Development. "In today's environment, a project of this scale will not get completed without the required cash equity in place and thankfully, our owners have committed the internal funds to get this project built."
A boost to Austin's economy, construction of the hotel over the next three years will generate over 500 full time construction jobs. Once completed, it is estimated that the property will employ over 700 permanent employees pushing White Lodging's total number of employees in greater Austin to over 1,300.
Already the largest hotelier in the City, White Lodging's managed portfolio in Austin will grow to 22 properties with over 4,200 guestrooms with the opening of the Marriott Marquis. The company's other Austin properties include Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott, Hilton Garden Inn, Holiday Inn, Marriott Hotel, Hyatt Summerfield Suites, Residence Inn by Marriott, SpringHill Suites by Marriott, and Westin Hotel brands. Most recently, White Lodging opened the 340-unit Westin Hotel @ The Domain in March, 2010 and anticipates breaking ground on the 296-unit Hyatt Place hotel located at 3rd Street and San Jacinto in August of this year.
Marriott Hotels & Resorts is Marriott International's original and most widely distributed, iconic brand with 500 hotels and resorts in 60 countries. Upon opening, the Marriott Marquis Austin Convention Center will be one of only five Marriott Marquis properties in the country (Atlanta, Miami, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, DC).
About White Lodging
White Lodging, established in 1985 by hospitality icon Bruce White, has evolved into one of the country's largest privately held hospitality companies focused exclusively on highly curated urban and lifestyle properties. The company develops, owns and manages a portfolio of brands in destination-driven markets, including Austin, Chicago, Denver, Nashville, Indianapolis, and Louisville. With a focus on elevated and experiential service, White Lodging's portfolio consists of approximately 60 premium hotels; a private collection of world-renowned luxury ranches; 50 locally relevant, award-winning restaurants; and 10 market-leading rooftop bars. White Lodging focuses on hiring and developing hospitalitarians that are committed to exceptional service and fostering meaningful connections. White Lodging is the second highest in the 2021 J.D. Power Guest Satisfaction Benchmark for third-party management companies, and has been near the top since the first benchmark was published. For more information about White Lodging, visit www.whitelodging.com or follow the company on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.