JW Marriott Opens in San Antonio
March 31, 2010 - The world's largest JW Marriott resort, and the only one in Texas, opened in January in San Antonio to offer a hacienda-style meeting and conference setting brimming with upscale group amenities.
Nestled among 600 acres of rolling hills, meandering creeks and live oak trees, the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa is noted as a top, all-in-one meeting destination with 140,000 square feet of high-tech meeting space, two championship-level golf courses, a 26,000-square-foot spa, heated pools and numerous restaurants.
The 1,002 guest rooms, including 85 suites, have been designed as intimate retreats with a rustically refined decor. A spa is ready to indulge attendees and delegates with a Texas-sized array of treatments along with fitness classes and a lagoon-like, private pool. Outside, just steps away, is a rapid river ride and hiking and biking trails ideal for team building activities, all next door to a 100-acre bird sanctuary.
“We are thrilled to welcome our first guests to this magnificent property,” General Manager Arthur Coulombe said in a statement. “Our entire staff has put their hearts into ensuring every guest seamlessly enjoys our distinctive South Texas hospitality and the natural wonders of the Texas Hill Country.”
JW Marriott provides impressive convention and meeting space, including 40,000- and 21,000-square-foot ballrooms, a 40,000-square-foot exhibit hall, breakout rooms and outdoor venues. The design of each space reflects the region's rich architectural past and the vibrant colors of Texas wildflowers. Meeting rooms also come with the latest in audio visual technology.
Perhaps the resort's most notable features are two PGA TOUR Tournament Players Club golf courses. Some of golf's most famous people designed the courses - Pete Dye and Player Consultant Bruce Lietzkefor for the AT&T Canyons Course, and Greg Norman and Player Consultant Sergio Garcia for the AT&T Oaks Course. The Norman-designed course will begin hosting the Valero Texas Open in May 2010.
Before the JW Marriot opened here, San Antonio already boasted almost 40,000 hotel rooms - 12,500 downtown - ranging from headquarter hotels to world-class destination resorts. Last year, the city hosted almost 500,000 delegates from around the world.
JW Marriott officials chose San Antonio for their newest flagship property because of the continuing strength of the hospitality industry here and a central location just 15 minutes from San Antonio International Airport, said resort owner Dave Johnstone, Executive Vice President of Global Miller Properties.
"At first I was surprised by how many conventions come to San Antonio, but the success of the Westin La Cantera and the Hyatt Regency Hill Country have shown that San Antonio is a great destination," he said.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
