Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) has received the 2003 Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) Transaction of the Year Award for the development of the nearly $600 million Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando, Fla.
Grande Lakes was the largest non-gaming hotel project to open in the United States in 2003. It is home to Orlando's first Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott hotels and is the first project to combine these two leading luxury hotel brands. The property is owned by Thayer Lodging Group and managed by The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., and Marriott Hotels & Resorts.
The 500-acre Grande Lakes estate includes a 584-room Ritz-Carlton, a 1,000-room JW Marriott hotel, an 18-hole Greg Norman-designed championship golf course and a 40,000 square-foot spa. The property offers 12 different lounge and dining choices including two signature dining venues: Norman's, located in The Ritz-Carlton, is a culinary collaboration with celebrated chef Norman Van Aken, and Primo, located in the JW Marriott, features chef Melissa Kelly. Meeting space is extensive with 33,000 square feet at The Ritz- Carlton, including two ballrooms and 14 meeting rooms. The JW Marriott features over 72,000 square feet of meeting space, including two ballrooms, 23 conference rooms and two boardrooms. Wireless high-speed internet access is available in all meetings rooms and public spaces.
In addition to Grande Lakes Orlando, two other Marriott properties, Wentworth by the Sea, A Marriott Hotel & Spa, and the Renaissance Grand Hotel, St. Louis, were among four finalists for the Transaction of the Year Award.