Construction Begins on Marriott’s First-Ever Triple-Brand Hotel, Located in Nashville’s Popular SoBro Neighborhood

Milestone Project Underscores Innovation for Developers, Guests and Highlights Multi-Brand Hotel Trend

BETHESDA, Md. — Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) today celebrates the groundbreaking of its first-ever hotel to contain three of its brands in a single building – a concept that underscores the company’s commitment to innovate in ways that benefit both consumers and the development community.

The landmark project will rise in Nashville’s SoBro neighborhood, which over the last few years has been transforming into a bustling area filled with restaurants, shopping and entertainment. The 470-room, $137 million hotel is expected to open mid-year in 2018.

“Marriott continues to grow its multi-brand portfolio, as these projects offer a myriad of benefits to both our development partners and our guests. Developers can target multiple consumer segments while benefitting from significant construction and cost synergies. Hotel guests are offered a wider range of options to serve all of their travel needs,” said Tony Capuano, Executive Vice President and Global Chief Development Officer at Marriott International.

The L-shaped, 21-story building being developed by Atlanta-based North Point Hospitality will contain an AC Hotels by Marriott® that will occupy 209 rooms in one wing and a combined SpringHill Suites by Marriott® and Residence Inn by Marriott® in the adjoining wing with 125 rooms and 136 rooms, respectively. Though customers will see three brand logos on the outside of the building and have three distinct hospitality experiences inside, the developer has planned to consolidate behind-the-scenes operations and spaces to reduce ongoing expenses.

“We are very excited to make history with Marriott by being the first company to develop a tri-branded Marriott hotel,” said S. Jay Patel, president and CEO of North Point Hospitality. “We are proud to partner with Marriott in bringing this concept to theNashville market and are confident that uniting the AC Hotels, Residence Inn, andSpringHill Suites brands will create a successful hotel and an exciting place to stay for a range of Music City visitors.”

Marriott has experience with the benefits of combining brands in single buildings. As of June 2016, Marriott has 52 dual-brand hotels open, 84 approved and 32 under construction – more than any other hospitality company in the world. Marriott‘s most visible example is New York’s combined Courtyard and Residence Inn located in Times Square in a 68-story tower, which makes it the tallest hotel in North America.

California and Texas are the states that contain the most dual-branded Marriott hotels now open, with four in each state, butCalifornia is poised to take the lead with 10 dual-branded properties under construction or approved.

Customers stand to benefit from this trend since the multi-brand hotels typically have more robust amenities, such as larger pools and fitness centers. North Point Hospitality’s plan for the Nashville triple-brand hotel includes a large pool, state-of-the-art fitness center and large conference and meeting space on the top floor.

“It is no secret that Nashville is in need of additional hotels room,” said Butch Spyridon, President and CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. “This project couldn’t come at a more perfect time with a great location and a great mix of price points and uniquely different offerings. We appreciate how Marriott is meeting the needs of our visitors, whether they are convention, leisure or business travelers.”

Lonely Planet named Nashville one of its top 10 cities around the world in its Best in Travel 2016 collection of top destinations to visit in the upcoming year (#BestinTravel). The list ranked Nashville at No. 9, making it the only United States city included. Travel + Leisure named Nashville a Destination of the Year (Readers’ Choice) in December 2015. TripAdvisor said Nashville had the greatest increase in popularity among travelers outside the US.

About AC Hotels by Marriott
AC Hotels by Marriott, a lifestyle brand that celebrates a new modern aesthetic complemented by a European soul and Spanish roots boasts more than 90 design-led hotels in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Denmark, Turkey, France, Mexico and the United States. Design-driven AC Hotels edit away the unnecessary to remove friction, providing thoughtfully designed moments of beauty, allowing guests to focus on what’s important to them. Property highlights include design-savvy guest rooms with sleek furnishings and intuitive technology features. For more information, visit ac-hotels.com.

About SpringHill Suites by Marriott
SpringHill Suites by Marriott is an all-suite brand that offers guests the little extras to help them enjoy their time away. A little extra style and design at an affordable price, makes the brand appealing to both business and leisure travelers. Featuring spacious suites and unique, well-designed layouts that allow guests to relax and reenergize. Launched in 1998, the brand currently has more than 300 locations in the United States and Canada. SpringHill Suites participates in the award-winningMarriott Rewards® frequent travel program that allows members to earn hotel points or airline miles for every dollar spent during each stay. For more information or reservations, contact the SpringHill Suites (name of hotel) directly at hotel phone number, call the SpringHill Suites toll-free number at 888-287-9400, visit www.springhillsuites.com, become a fan atwww.facebook.com/springhillsuites or follow SpringHill at twitter.com/springhillsuite.

About Residence Inn by Marriott
Residence Inn by Marriott is the global leader in the extended-stay lodging segment, with more than 700 properties located inthe United States; Canada; Europe; the Middle East and Central America. Designed for long stays, the brand offers spacious suites with separate living, working, and sleeping zones. Fully functional kitchens; grocery delivery service; 24-hour markets and complimentary breakfasts help guests maximize their time and thrive while they travel. The RI Mix™ evening events afford guests the opportunity to socialize and connect with the local community. Each Residence Inn offers free Wi-Fi in both public and guests spaces to ensure continuous connectivity while on the road. As a member of the Marriott International portfolio,Residence Inn participates in the award-winning Marriott Rewards® frequent guest program. Members earn their choice of points toward free vacations or frequent flyer mileage for dollars spent at any of the nearly 4,500 Marriott hotels worldwide.

About Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, with nearly 4,500 properties in 87 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of more than $14 billion in fiscal year 2015. 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, MarriottHotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels byMarriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® andMoxy Hotels®. 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 comprise 56 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website atwww.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.

ME Miami marks brand’s debut in U.S.

Marking a historic moment for Meliá Hotels International, its ME by Meliá brand officially opened its first-ever U.S. destination —ME Miami — in Downtown Miami. The hotel opens with 129 luxury-appointed rooms and more than 1,000 square feet of meeting space. Guests will be able to enjoy brand signature suites, a 14^th floor Sun Deck featuring open air Sunset and Sunrise pools and Bella’s Bar, a poolside bar and lounge set to open later this Summer. The property will also introduce a fresh interpretation of The ONE Group’s STK restaurant. The opening of ME Miami represents an exciting new chapter for the lifestyle brand, which has destinations in London, Madrid, Milan, Ibiza, Mallorca, Cabo, and Cancún.

CGI 1100 Biscayne Management, LLC, an affiliate of CGI Merchant Group, owns the hotel, which will be managed under the Meliá Hotels International brand ME by Meliá. CGI Merchant Group purchased the building in January 2013, and led the redevelopment of the original hotel from 56 to 129 guestrooms. The design-forward property underscores the ME brand’s practice of opening destinations in capitals of culture and cool, a key characteristic that proved appealing to CGI.

ME Miami is located in the heart of bustling downtown and within a stone’s throw of major cultural institutions including the Pérez Art Museum Miami, Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts and the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science. The new hotel’s enviable location is equidistant to Miami’s flourishing communities located near downtown, including the popular and artsy Wynwood, booming Midtown, the Miami Design District, MiMo, Brickell, and the Arts + Entertainment District for guests to engage and discover.

“The opening of ME Miami is not only historic because it is the brand’s first-ever foray into the U.S. market, but also because it’s an acknowledgement and celebration of Miami’s thriving downtown community, which has undergone an extraordinary and exciting cultural Renaissance,” said André P. Gerondeau, Executive Vice President of Hotels, Meliá Hotels International. “As the brand does with all of its destinations, ME Miami really places the guest right in the middle of that urban vitality and momentum. We’re excited about what we’ve achieved here, and know that our guests will find ME Miami a distinctive and compelling addition to an already robust portfolio of unique destinations.”

The ME by Meliá brand is known for creating experiences catered to each individual, while also encouraging social interaction. The ME guest is stylish, modern and smart, mixes business with pleasure travel and considers traveling an extension of the life experience. A mix of insightful design, inspiring art displays, global music, in-room amenities, signature food & beverage offerings and pet perks heighten the brand’s appeal to guests’ passions while exceeding expectations.

Well-appointed guest rooms feature custom furnishings, ultra-plush bedding, modern technology, in-room “Maxi” bars and spectacular views of the Bay and skyline. The soon-to-be-completed deluxe one-bedroom Personality Suite overlooks the city from the 14^th floor, while the ultra-plush, two-bedroom Suite ME will provide an urban oasis on the 11^th floor when it opens later this month. Suites come with ME+ Experience service, including customized check in and preferences for their stay. Premium Algotherm natural bath products that emphasize holistic wellbeing pamper guests in-room. In the Fall, the hotel will be introducing SKIN C featuring relaxing massages and services for guests. Pet-friendly welcome kits containing shampoo, a playball, mini towel and teeth cleanser are available by request, along with a plush pet bed, food & water bowls, and a slew of pet services including gourmet pet food specially-prepared by the chef for pets to enjoy during their stay. The hotel also has a partnership with renowned fashion photographer Alberto van Stokkum, which includes exciting installations on the 1st and 3^rd floors, ME+ Suites and activations that will officially roll out later in the year.

In the true ME by Meliá tradition of bringing the outside in, ME Miami has touches and influences reflective of its surrounding community. Floor-to-ceiling windows, vibrant art, lush greenery and multi-tiered public spaces provide an open flow and allow Miami’s tropical vistas to provide the backdrop. Further, ME’s Aura Experience Managers, a signature brand position empowered to curate the guest stay, set the mood throughout the hotel’s public and personal spaces by controlling everything about the sensory experience — from music, to lighting, to scent — creating the perfect tone designed to inspire, invoke and ignite guests’ passions. These individuals also serve as on-site experts allowing guests to make the most of their stay, from simple tips such as how to navigate the Wynwood art and bar scene to personalized suggestions on where to go and what to do, including an insider’s guide to free, underground community events that only locals would be aware of.

“CGI, and its entire development team, is excited to work with a brand of Meliá’s caliber and is thrilled to see the fruits of more than two years’ of work come together so beautifully. Investing in the coveted location of 1100 Biscayne and making it home to the first-ever ME by Meliá in the U.S. is a true milestone and responsibility for CGI,” said Raoul Thomas, Chief Executive Officer CGI Merchant Group. “We look forward to introducing this exceptional space, culinary experience and creativity to the Miami community and beyond.”

ME by Meliá not only caters to its guests, but also the local Miami community through its unique pairing of signature entertainment and dining options. Resident DJ sets and special music-driven events that draw headliners from around the world for unforgettable parties are synonymous with the ME by Meliá brand, and ME Miami will be no exception. ME Miami will also be home to STK Miami, a fresh, new interpretation of the famed steakhouse concept by leading luxury hospitality brand The ONE Group. Situated on the hotel’s ground level, overlooking iconic Biscayne Boulevard, guests can see and be seen amidst the bustling downtown area. Inspired by the emerging local scene, the restaurant will feature sleek, contemporary dining and lounge spaces by ICRAVE, as well as an in-house DJ. This will be the first newly-designed STK location to offer both daytime and evening dining, serving an array of reimagined classic American cuisine. Signature dishes include bite-sized Lil’ BRGsmade with Wagyu beef, Lobster Mac & Cheese, and of course, the highest quality cuts of steak. The ONE Group will also provide in-room dining, bites and cocktails Bella’s Bar on the 14^th floor pool deck, as well as breakfast service.

The opening of ME Miami follows closely in the footsteps of ME Milan Il Duca, which opened May 2015; ME Mallorca and ME Ibiza in 2014; as well as the celebrated ME London opening in 2013. The brand will continue to expand with the exciting development of future properties in key markets, including ME Caracas in 2017 and late award-winning architect Zaha Hadid’s ME Dubai, slated to open in 2018.

Showcase Your Chefs To Entertain Guests

By Larry Mogelonsky, Founder, LMA Communications Inc.

Showcase Your Chefs To Entertain Guests | By Larry Mogelonsky

Earlier this year, I was invited up to the BMO Institute for Learning (IFL) in the suburbs of my hometown of Toronto. The purpose of my visit was to guest judge the regional IACC Copper Skillet Competition for Ontario whereby chefs operating in conference centers were given all the same ingredients and only two skillets in order to complete dishes in less than 45 minutes. As one of two evaluators alongside Rose Reisman, we marked each chef’s creation based upon taste, presentation and applicability to a banqueting or catering scenario.

This year’s contest included:

• Luc McCabe from the NAV Centre in Cornwall, Ontario
• Rebecca Lynore Marett and Alvin Guilas from the IFL in Scarborough, Ontario
• Alexsandra Lalonde and Barrington Graham from St. Andrew’s Club & Conference Centre in downtown Toronto, Ontario
• James Van Hagen and Kent Phillips from the Ivey Spencer Leadership Centre in London, Ontario

To sum it up, the food delivered by all seven competing chefs was utterly fantastic. For the three chosen mains, the Cornish hen was succulent (hard to do with only a skillet and a limited timeframe), the pork tenderloin was well-spiced and the fishiness of the trout was balanced with lemon, herbs and just the right amount of butter. While each chef worked frantically to get their plates ready, they were all humble, enthusiastic and thoroughly knowledgeable about their cuisine after the show.

This time was different, though. Last year only had five participants, and so the organizers could keep it behind closed doors within the confines of IFL’s kitchen. However, with seven contestants that was never longer possible. Instead, tables were assembled along a central corridor in the building’s atrium with all guests free to walk around and watch the chefs in action. I told the organizers this after the event was over and I’ll repeat it now: hosting this competition out in the open was an outstanding idea.

Yes, it raised a few minor safety issues as you had passersby coming close to hot pans, open flames and sharp knives, but the positives far outweigh any such drawbacks. Observing professional chefs in action isn’t something we’re privy to every day, which makes this contest both exceptional and highly memorable. By letting people witness this event, it gets them talking, both in person and via social media as noted by the dozens of smartphones cameras whipped out to document the occasion. Lastly, it was quite interactive as onlookers were invited to sample the cuisine and to ask questions.

While the Copper Skillet Competition comes but once a year to Ontario (with many other satellite and international iterations), I pose the question to you: Why can’t your hotel host a public cooking show or competition?

We all know that cooking shows are popular these days, and your own culinary event can piggyback on this contemporary craze. At its most basic level, you could host a contest only between the chefs working at one property. More challenging will be to bring participants together from multiple locations – either those operating at the behest of a specific management company or a given brand (either soft branded association or chain). Of course there are logistical challenges (safety concerns, spacing, electrical access and so on) but the returns are too great to ignore.

Not only will these types of events highlight a hotel or conference center’s prestige as a culinary destination, but they will also inspire all chefs to continue to hone their craft in the kitchen. Much like how other industries have trade shows for the exchange of ideas, so too do gourmets need to occasionally Rendezvous to exhibit their culinary creativity. Then think of your guests. Such a competition is memorable and interactive – both incredible attributes to heighten guest satisfaction and build a loyal customer base.