On Monday Marriott International, Inc. announced the addition of five minority-owned hotels to its portfolio, including a new property owned by the Roberts Hotel Group.
The Roberts Hotel Group is led and managed by brothers Michael and Steven Roberts, chairman and CEO and COO, respectively. As a part of the agreement with Marriott, the Roberts Hotel Group, which currently manages eight hotels, will own and operate the 146-room Courtyard Dallas Northwest Highway at Stemmons. The Roberts’ younger brother, Mark Roberts, will manage the day-to-day hotel operations.
“The Roberts Hotel Group recognizes Marriott as a world-class hotelier, with a reservation system and points program known historically for driving business and value to their franchisees,” said Michael Roberts, chairman and CEO of The Roberts Hotel Group and chairman of the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers (NABHOOD).
“We look forward to our new partnership with Marriott and future opportunities to expand our portfolio.”
Centrally located close to Downtown Dallas, Love Field Airport and DFW Airport, the Roberts’ new Courtyard hotel will undergo an extensive renovation of the guestrooms and public space early next year. It will feature the newly launched reinvented Courtyard prototype which offers a variety of upgraded amenities including new bedding, a spacious bathroom, a new console desk design with increased workspace and movable casters, a dedicated library in the public space, the Courtyard Café and The Market.
Also among the additions are four hotels owned by Integrated Capital, LLC, including three in Fort Collins, Colo., and a Residence Inn that is part of the 300-acre National Harbor project in Prince George’s County, Md.
These acquisitions bring Marriott closer to its goal, established in 2005, to have 500 minority- and women-owned hotels by 2010.
The 162-room Residence Inn National Harbor, which is scheduled to break ground in early 2007, will be featured as a part of the 300-acre, 7.3 million sq. ft. of mixed-use community that will combine retail, dining, entertainment, office and residential space. Located in Prince George’s County, Md. – cited as the wealthiest majority African-American county in the nation by Ebony magazine – the National Harbor Project will have the largest combined hotel and convention center on the Eastern Seaboard.
“Each of these companies owes it success, in no small part, to its excellent understanding of emerging development opportunities,” said Marriott International’s Senior Vice President of North American Lodging Norman K. Jenkins.
“We are thrilled that they chose Marriott and are equally excited about expanding our relationship with both companies.”
Marriott International operates nearly 2,800 lodging properties under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Bulgari brand names. In fiscal year 2005, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $11.6 billion
For more information on Marriott International, Inc. and its diversity ownership program, visit www.marriott.com.
