Carey Watermark Investors Acquires Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza for $57 Million
Guestroom renovations and Marriott Hotels' "Greatroom Lobby" concept planned
November 21, 2014 - Carey Watermark Investors Incorporated (CWI), a non-traded real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on investing in lodging and lodging-related properties, announced that it has acquired the Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza, a 295-room full-service hotel, located in Kansas City, MO.
Key Facts:
- Central location: Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza is located at the Country Club Plaza, a 55-acre, 15-block upscale shopping district located four miles from downtown Kansas City and comprised of approximately 150 retail establishments, restaurants and entertainment venues. The location also benefits from office demand, a hospital and the University of Missouri-Kansas City in the surrounding area.
- Strong sub market: The Country Club Plaza is the most desirable lodging destination for commercial and leisure travelers in Kansas City, which has experienced a cumulative average growth rate in RevPAR of 4.4% since 2009.
- Planned property improvements: Planned improvements include updates to food and beverage outlets, meeting spaces and the hotel's exterior. The Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza will also implement Marriott Hotels' signature "Greatroom" lobby concept, which features modern, open and flexible lobby space for guests to use for business, leisure or time to themselves. These improvements, along with the complete room and corridor renovations, will position the property attractively compared to its peers.
- Attractive all-in investment: The $71.5 million investment includes the $56.7 million purchase price as well as $14.8 million of other acquisition-related costs and planned capital expenditures. The acquisition was financed with $38.5 million of debt.
- Marriott brand affiliation: As a property of Marriott International's flagship Marriott Hotels brand, the Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza benefits from Marriott's strong reservation system and loyalty program, as well as its superior brand recognition and demand among both domestic and international travelers.
Management:
The hotel will continue to be managed by Interstate Hotels & Resorts.
Property and amenities:
•295 rooms housed in 19 stories
•16,000 square feet of meeting space
•Three food & beverage outlets
•Fitness center, indoor pool and spa
•Complimentary wireless internet access
Management Commentary
Michael Medzigian, Chief Executive Officer of CWI, commented: "The acquisition of the Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza represented an opportunity to invest in a high-quality full-service property located in the heart of the most desirable lodging destination in Kansas City. We believe that our planned hotel renovations, updating guest rooms and refreshing public and meeting spaces will materially enhance the hotel's positioning in the market providing longer-term value creation for our investors."
Carey Watermark Investors CWI is a publicly registered, non-traded REIT that was formed to make investments primarily in the lodging and lodging-related sectors. Affiliates of W. P. Carey Inc. and Watermark Capital Partners advise CWI and manage its overall portfolio. www.careywatermark.com




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