Little Rock Marriott in Arkansas Opens
Atlanta (USA) – May 4, 2013 – Officials today celebrated Little Rock’s newest Marriott Hotels & Resorts property, the 418-room Little Rock Marriott in downtown Little Rock, Ark. To commemorate the event, the hotel hosted a special ribbon cutting ceremony with community and business leaders. The hotel, operated by Davidson Hotels & Resorts and owned by an affiliate of Fairwood Capital, will undergo a multi-million dollar renovation of all guest rooms and public spaces starting in early 2014.
“The addition of the Marriott Hotels & Resorts flag, along with its associated accommodations, amenities and reservation system, will better position our hotel to meet the needs and demands of both business and leisure travelers seeking upscale accommodations in the area,” said Bill Fontes, general manager. “We are the only full-service Marriott hotel in Arkansas which we believe gives us a significant competitive advantage.”
Attendees included Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola, members of the Little Rock Board of Directors and Convention & Visitors Bureau, as well as a number of other civic and business leaders. Also in attendance were George Katz, regional vice president, and Kathy Hood, vice president of sales and revenue management from Davidson Hotels & Resorts, as well as Ed Ansbro, executive vice president and Tom Defreece, vice president & controller from Fairwood Capital.
Conveniently located in the heart of Little Rock’s downtown River Market district, the hotel is connected to the Statehouse Convention Center and is just minutes away from the William J. Clinton Presidential Library, the Verizon Arena, Old Statehouse Museum, local performing arts centers and the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport. The property boasts 418 guest rooms, 40,000 square feet of meeting and ballroom space, a restaurant, lounge and lobby bar.
“Little Rock is a regional magnet for business, meetings/convention and leisure travel,” said Ted Arps, senior vice president, Investment Management, with Davidson Hotels & Resorts. “After a thorough review of the market, we worked closely with Fairwood to select the best brand to reposition this hotel. The Marriott flag brings instant credibility to a great hotel and location, and we intend to provide the guest service and attention to detail for which both Marriot and Little Rock are well-known.”
About Fairwood Capital
Fairwood Capital, LLC is a real estate investment firm focused on the acquisition, recapitalization, and repositioning of hospitality-related real estate and operating platforms. The company is backed by established institutional capital and pursues a value-oriented investment strategy.
About Marriott Hotels & Resort
Marriott Hotels & Resorts continues to inspire and provide a balanced life on the road for discerning and high-achieving business and leisure travelers, offering warm, professional service; sophisticated yet functional guest room design; lobby spaces that facilitate working, dining and socializing; restaurants and bars serving international cuisine prepared simply and from the freshest ingredients; meeting and event spaces and services that are gold standard; and expansive, 24-hour fitness facilities. All Marriott hotels participate in the award winning Marriott Rewards guest loyalty program that allows members to earn hotel points or airline miles for every dollar spent during stays.
About Davidson
Davidson Hotels & Resorts is an award-winning, full-service hotel management company that provides management, development/renovation, acquisition, consulting and accounting expertise for the hospitality industry. The company has amassed one of the purest full-service hotel portfolios in the industry, ranging from the upper-upscale to near-luxury segments; encompassing 46 upscale, full-service independent and branded hotels with over 13,000 rooms across the United States, including such affiliations as Marriott, Renaissance, Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites, Sheraton, Westin, Hilton Garden Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, and Radisson. Additional information on Davidson may be found at the company’s Web site, www.davidsonhotels.com.
Media Contact:
Cyndi Norwood
Davidson Hotels & Resorts
(678) 349-0909
cnorwood@davidsonhotels.com