BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Marriott
International (NASDAQ: MAR)'s new agreement with Chandris Hotels
will mark the return of the Marriott Hotel brand to the vibrant
city of Athens, following an
absence of more than two years. Once the hotel completes its
$15 million transformation, the
Athens Marriott Hotel will debut in 2018 with 366 guestrooms and
the welcoming service and world-class amenities that Marriott
guests worldwide expect.
The signing of this hotel, which Chandris Hotels currently runs
as the independent Metropolitan Athens Hotel, underscores
Marriott's desire to work with owners to expand its 30 brands in
European capitals. Chandris Hotels currently owns and operates five
hotels in Greece.
"We are excited to work with Chandris Hotels, which has a strong
history in the hospitality industry and shares our vision for
innovating. We are also proud they selected us as their first
collaboration with an international brand," said Carlton Ervin, Marriott International's Chief
Development Officer, Europe.
"Their plan to significantly refurbish this hotel highlights our
shared confidence in Greece's
dynamic travel and tourism industry."
The renovation plans for the cosmopolitan property includes
modern conveniences and stylish features. The well-known Marriott
name will adorn the building once the guestrooms and public spaces
are completed. The hotel will feature two contemporary restaurants,
a chic rooftop bar, fitness facilities, a swimming pool and
state-of-the-art meeting space that can be customized with
Marriott's MeetingsImagined.com service.
The hotel is located on the busy artery Syngrou Avenue, opposite
the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, a cultural complex
designed by Italian architect Renzo
Piano that houses the National Library of Greece and the National Opera.
"The hotel is well placed to benefit from the planned
development of the area into an attractive waterfront Riviera, and
this serious investment demonstrates our confidence in the future
of the city of Athens and our
strength as a company," said George
Paidoussis, President of Chandris Hotels.
"We considered many brands and selected the one that we felt
most closely reflected our strategic direction and standard of
excellence," Paidoussis said. "The future of business hotels in the
face of fast evolving technology depends on networks of loyal
program members and Marriott's is by far the world's leader."
The Athens announcement comes
less than a month after Marriott International completed its
acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts. The transaction
created the world's largest hotel company, with Marriott
International operating or franchising more than 5,700 properties
and 1.1 million rooms, in over 110 countries. In Greece, Marriott's distribution now totals 13
hotels and resorts, including eight under The Luxury Collection
brand, making Greece the country
with the highest concentration of Luxury Collection hotels and
resorts in Europe. Marriott in the
last 12 months also opened two Autograph Collection hotels on the
island of Crete - Domes of Elounda
and Domes Noruz Chania.
About Marriott International, Inc.
Marriott
International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is the world's largest hotel
company based in Bethesda,
Maryland, USA, with more than 5,700 properties in over 110
countries. Marriott operates and franchises hotels. and licenses
vacation ownership resorts. The company's 30 leading brands
include: Bulgari Hotels and Resorts®, The Ritz-Carlton® and
The Ritz-Carlton Reserve®, St. Regis®, W®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®,
The Luxury Collection®, Marriott Hotels®, Westin®, Le Méridien®,
Renaissance® Hotels, Sheraton®, Delta Hotels by
MarriottSM, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott
Vacation Club®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Tribute Portfolio™,
Design Hotels™, Gaylord Hotels®, Courtyard®, Four Points® by
Sheraton, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®,
Residence Inn®, TownePlace Suites®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Aloft®,
Element®, Moxy Hotels®, and Protea Hotels by
Marriott®. The company also operates award-winning loyalty
programs: Marriott Rewards®, which includes The Ritz-Carlton
Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest®. For more information,
please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the
latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com and
@MarriottIntl.
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SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.