JW Marriott hotel opens in central Kuwait City

The second JW Marriott-branded hotel in the Middle East opened recently in central Kuwait City, as a result of the conversion of the existing 291-room Le Meridien Hotel. Located on Al Shuhada Street in the vicinity of the financial district and commercial, embassy and government offices, the JW Marriott Hotel Kuwait City is owned by Salhia Real Estate Company and is connected to Kuwait City's prestigious Salhia Shopping Complex.

"We are delighted by the addition of the JW Marriott Hotel Kuwait City to our lodging system in the Middle East and by the confidence demonstrated in us by Salhia Real Estate," said Anton Najjar, Vice-President for Marriott International, Middle East and Africa. "We are confident that the JW Marriott Hotel Kuwait City and the Courtyard by Marriott hotel that is currently under-construction will be welcome additions to the hospitality infrastructure in Kuwait City.

"Marriott is today a global brand and we aim to reach out to customers across the continents. We have been able to make great strides in the Middle East and our excellent standards in the region have truly set a trend. We believe in  identifying and understanding the needs of our customers and guests and working closely on the ground level to fulfil these in coordination with effective local partnerships."

For dining and entertainment, the JW Marriott Hotel Kuwait City has a tea lounge and four restaurants, including a Marriott steak house, a second specialty restaurant, a café, and a casual restaurant offering continuous dining. For recreation, the hotel has a health and leisure club, beauty parlour and indoor swimming pool. Other amenities includes a business centre, 24-hour room service, in-room mini-bar, laundry/valet service and parking space for 150 automobiles.

For social events and conferences, the JW Marriott Hotel Kuwait City has 17,743 square feet of flexible meeting space. Included are an 8,543 square-foot and a 2,420 square-foot ballroom and seven individual meeting rooms of varying sizes. The Kuwait International Airport is located a 15-minute drive away from the hotel.

" JW Marriott Hotel Kuwait City promises to deliver exemplary service and facilities to all our valued patrons. We are confident that this property will be an effective ambassador of Marriott International's brand value and excellence. Personally, it gives me great pleasure to work with Marriott in this  region," said Frank Tideman, General Manager.

"It's the Marriott experience. We do whatever it takes to provide our associates with the utmost opportunities, and our customers with superior service. We take pride in the knowledge that our customers can count on Marriott's unique  blend of quality, consistency, personalized service and recognition. I am sure that our extensive experience in this region, will offer tremendous value and comfort to our valued customers," he said.

JW Marriott hotels are the most elegant and luxurious hotels carrying the  Marriott brand name. They cater to discerning upscale travelers who seek a  lodging experience of high comfort and prestige and compete with other deluxe hotel brands in the high-end lodging market.

"Salhia Real Estate Company is very pleased that Marriott International is managing its hospitality interests in Kuwait City. Marriott is one of the leading hotel companies in the world and has several brands, which fit the strategic vision of our company. The re-branding of this hotel to the JW Marriott Kuwait City follows the large investments and enhancements made in this property over the last several years in order to bring service level to new standards," said Ghazi Alnafisi, chairman of the owning company. "On behalf of the company, I would like to express our belief and wishes for long and mutually beneficial relations between Marriott International and Salhia Real Estate Company."

In addition to the JW Marriott Hotel Kuwait City, a 310-room Courtyard by Marriott Kuwait City hotel, also owned by Salhia Real Estate, is scheduled to join the Marriott International (NYSE:MAR) lodging portfolio in 2003.

A collection of 26 hotels in the world now carries the JW Marriott name. Additional JW Marriott hotels are under construction in Shanghai (2003) and Cairo (2003), as well as in Florida (2003) in the United States and one in Puerto Rico (2005).