World's Largest JW Marriott Opens February 4 in Downtown Indianapolis

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The JW Marriott® Indianapolis Downtown opens its doors on Friday, February 4, 2011, completing the Marriott Place development project occupying seven acres along the west side of downtown Indianapolis.

Marriott Place Indianapolis is a collection of five Marriott properties that offer unprecedented options for business and leisure travelers, not to mention meeting planners. In addition to the new JW Marriott Indianapolis, the $450 million complex includes the Courtyard by Marriott Indianapolis Downtown, SpringHill Suites by Marriott Indianapolis Downtown, Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Indianapolis Downtown and the Marriott Indianapolis Downtown, with a total of 2,248 rooms. All are connected to the newly renovated and expanded Indiana Convention Center.

"The new JW Marriott Indianapolis Downtown is truly the 'crown jewel' of the Marriott Place development," said Scott Blalock, general manager of the JW Marriott Indianapolis.  "With the variety and flexibility of meeting and event space that we offer, as well as accommodations at various price points, we can suit almost anybody's needs."

In addition to 54 meeting rooms and 104,000 square feet of event space, the JW Marriott Indianapolis also houses a 40,500 square foot Grand Ballroom, the largest hotel ballroom in the Midwest.  The completion of the JW Marriott Indianapolis marks the culmination of nearly $3 billion in urban investment in downtown Indianapolis.  The new hotel, along with the newly expanded Indiana Convention Center, Lucas Oil Stadium and a new International Airport make Indianapolis a viable destination for a larger variety of meetings and prominent events.

"The Marriott Place Indianapolis hotel complex is an integral component to the city's overall strategic tourism growth," said Michael Browning, chairman of the board for the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association (ICVA). "The Indiana Convention Center's recent expansion, a new airport, new stadium hosting the Super Bowl, and now touting the world's largest JW Marriott – Indianapolis has arrived on the national tourism scene and is the envy of destinations across the nation.  The city's overall compact convention package continues to attract new customers, with more hotel rooms connected into our convention center via skywalks than any other city in the U.S.  We are thankful to the White Family for their continued commitment to Indianapolis; their investment is benefiting our entire tourism industry."

Standing approximately 375 feet tall and 34 stories high, the JW Marriott Indianapolis is the tallest hotel in the state of Indiana and the largest JW Marriott in the world based on its 1,005 guest rooms. Each room offers elegant style with enhanced residential comforts of home. All guest rooms and suites will feature 40" LCD televisions and a plug-in panel integrating laptops, MP3 and video players.  Guests will also be able to access a virtual, interactive concierge from their TV remote control.

The hotel features two restaurants including High Velocity and Osteria Pronto, which also encompasses Tavern on the Plaza, an outdoor patio set to open this spring with an outside bar and a fire pit. High Velocity is a high-adrenaline sports bar offering well-crafted food offerings, a diverse beer selection, and custom cocktails. Guests can watch their favorite sporting events on one of the 50 televisions that fill the restaurant.

Located on the north-end of the hotel is Osteria Pronto, the three-course Italian restaurant featuring authentic and thoughtfully prepared dishes in a casual atmosphere. Osteria Pronto will provide fresh dishes with the right balance of familiarity and innovation, complimented by the chef's exceptional selection of Italian and American wines. The restaurant will also offer lounge and cocktail menus in the wine bar located right next to the lobby. Private dining options are also available for larger parties.

For more information about this premier hotel development, including advance group sales and career opportunities, visit www.jwindy.com or contact Cory Chambers at the JW Marriott Indianapolis sales office at 317-860-4921 or via email at [email protected].

ABOUT MARRIOTT PLACE INDIANAPOLIS

The spectacular $450 million complex will feature 1,626 rooms and, when combined with the existing 622 rooms in the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, will form Marriott Place Indianapolis. Once completed, the hotel complex will serve as the premier convention headquarters hotel in Indianapolis with 145,000 square feet of meeting, banquet and exhibit space (104,000 square feet within the JW Marriott Indianapolis), and one of Marriott's largest hotel ballrooms totaling 40,500 square feet. This landmark hotel development will serve as an anchor for central Indiana's convention and tourism industry. Located on a seven-acre site overlooking the White River State Park, guests are steps away from a thriving downtown with numerous, exciting entertainment attractions. The Courtyard by Marriott Indianapolis Downtown, Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Indianapolis Downtown, SpringHill Suites by Marriott Indianapolis Downtown, and the T.G.I. Friday's opened in February, 2010. The JW Marriott Indianapolis opens February 4, 2011.

ABOUT JW MARRIOTT

JW Marriott is part of Marriott International's exclusive portfolio and consists of properties in gateway cities and distinctive resort locations around the world. These elegant hotels cater to today's sophisticated, self-assured travelers, offering a warmly authentic, relaxed atmosphere lacking in pretense. JW Marriott properties artfully provide highly crafted, anticipatory experiences that are reflective of their locale so that their guests have the time to focus on what is most important to them. Currently, there are 45 JW Marriott hotels in 19 countries; by 2013 the portfolio will encompass 73 properties in 28 countries.

ABOUT WHITE LODGING

Established in 1985 and headquartered in Merrillville, IN, White Lodging is a fully integrated developer, owner and manager of premium brand hotels – a recognized leader that consistently delivers superior, leading-brand hotel experiences and premium returns on investment among mid- to-large scale hotels across the country. With over 25 years of expertise, White Lodging continues to break ground as one of the fastest growing independent hospitality companies in the country. Their managed portfolio of 153 hotels in seventeen states encompasses representation of the following leading brand affiliations: Marriott International, Hyatt Global, Hilton Worldwide, Radisson Hotels, Intercontinental Hotel Group, and Starwood Hotels & Resorts. For more information about White Lodging, visit www.whitelodging.com.

SOURCE JW Marriott Indianapolis