NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Oct. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- At 25 years young, Courtyard by Marriott is redefining itself and the business travelers' hotel. Today, J.W. Marriott, Jr., chairman and CEO, Marriott International, Inc. marked the milestone by showing off the brand's modern and stylish look to VIPs and media at the newly opened Courtyard Newport News Airport hotel in Virginia, which is owned and operated by LTD Management Company of Chesapeake, Virginia. The global power brand will reach 800 hotels in 2009 and is undergoing a $500 million make-over by its owners and franchisees over the next two and a half years.
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"From the start, our innovative Courtyard brand revolutionized the business travel experience," said Bill Marriott. "The new design, food and beverage and technology offerings truly represent the future of the brand and ensure its position as the leading hotel for business travelers." Read more about the event on Bill Marriott's blog -- Marriott on the Move, see video of the Courtyard 25th anniversary on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfPWvJ0AJ3Q and leave a comment on http://www.gocourtyard.com/.
Courtyard by Marriott -- the first lodging brand exclusively designed for business travel by business travelers, has completely redefined the hotel lobby experience. It has created a totally new lobby space that invites guests to get out of their rooms to socialize, relax, work or entertain, whether traveling alone or with colleagues.
Customer feedback has been impressive. Courtyard hotels with the new lobby design show a 10 percent increase in guest satisfaction and a 27 percent jump in guests saying they intend to stay at the hotel again compared to the previous year. Courtyard expects to introduce the new lobby concept at approximately 30 more hotels this year and nearly 150 properties in 2009. Elements of the new lobby have also been implemented at Courtyard hotels in other countries.
"From day one, Courtyard has prided itself as a brand that listens to what business travelers want from a hotel," said Brian King, vice president, global brand manager, Courtyard by Marriott. "Guests want more control and choice with services and amenities that create a healthy balance between working and relaxing."
The open, bright and contemporary new Courtyard hotel lobby welcomes guests with vivid contrasting colors, including blue, green, orange and red. The traditional front desk is replaced with separate welcome podiums, designed to create more personal interactions between staff and guests when checking in. Courtyard staff will be able to move about to show guests the lobby features and provide assistance.
A signature element of the new lobby is the exclusive Courtyard GoBoardTM, a 52-inch LCD touch screen packed with local information, maps, weather, and news, business and sports headlines. Guests can navigate using the touch screen to find restaurants, local attractions and directions.
Guests can connect to free WiFi and there are ample electrical outlets throughout the lobby to power digital devices. The enlarged business library features several complimentary computer terminals along with a free printer and separate computer stations dedicated to printing airline boarding passes and checking flight status.
Dining has been completely redesigned with casual, flexible seating; easier access to food and higher quality, healthier menu options for breakfast; and light evening fare, including snacks, wine and beer so guests can unwind. The MarketTM, a 24/7 shop for snacks, beverages and sundries, is always open for late-night cravings or the toothpaste you forgot to pack.
Guests looking to take their minds off work can grab a snack, their favorite beverage and take a seat in front of the large high-definition television located in the lounge to watch a variety of programming, including top news, business, sports and entertainment channels. Flexible seating options range from a communal table in the middle of the action, to more private media booths with high-definition televisions, to a more intimate, semi-enclosed lounge area.
"Our partnership with Marriott has led LTD to many great deals and properties, but the new Courtyard Newport News Airport may be the most exciting yet," said Dilip Desai, Senior Managing Partner for LTD Management Company, L.L.C. "We wanted to be the first new build to rollout this extraordinary brand makeover."
The Courtyard Newport News Airport offers 120 rooms, 967 square feet of meeting space and complimentary wireless Internet throughout the hotel and in all guest rooms. The property is located in the heart of the Hampton Roads, approximately two miles from the Newport News Williamsburg International Airport and centrally located just miles from Historic Williamsburg, Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
Visit gocourtyard.com for brand updates, customer feedback, Brian King's blog and information on new and renovated Courtyard hotels. Courtyard by Marriott is the company's largest brand with 793 hotels worldwide. For more information or reservations, call the Courtyard toll-free number at 800-321-2211 or visit http://www.courtyard.com/.
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Marriott statements on expected investment spending by owners and franchisees and the anticipated renovation completion and opening dates for hotels are "forward looking statements" within the meaning of federal securities laws, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those described in Marriott International, Inc.'s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which could cause actual investment spending or renovation or opening dates to be different than expected.
Click LTD Management Company, L.L.C., for company information.
Click Marriott International, Inc. for company information.
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