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Deal underscores Marriott International’s commitment to Australia, with 18 hotels open and 17 in the pipeline
Marriott International Inc. today announced it has signed an agreement with Melbourne-based property development company Capital Alliance to introduce the AC Hotels by Marriott ®, brand to Australia.
The 200-room AC Hotel by Marriott Melbourne Southbank hotel is expected to open in 2020 as part of a dynamic mixed-use development. The hotel marks Marriott International’s second major hotel deal with Capital Alliance, with Melbourne Marriott Hotel Docklands currently under construction, and underscores the hospitality company’s growth in Australia.
The AC Hotels brand was born from the vision of renowned hotelier Antonio Catalan, who founded the brand in 1988 and grew it into one of the most successful and highly-regarded hotel brands in Spain. Following the brand’s success in Europe, a joint venture was formed with Marriott International in 2011 to launch AC Hotels by Marriott. Based on a belief that purposeful design can enrich lives, AC Hotels by Marriott celebrates classic modern design that is inspired by the urban locale and the brand’s Spanish roots.
“We are thrilled to be collaborating with Capital Alliance to bring a new lifestyle brand to Melbourne and Australia,” said Richard Crawford, Senior Director Development, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific, Marriott International. “The AC Melbourne Southbank underscores the growing demand we’re seeing in Australia for premium lifestyle hotels that offer style and functional design, as well as authentic and memorable travel experiences connected to the location.”
The AC Hotel Melbourne Southbank will be located in The Normanby, a 40-storey mixed-use building that will feature high-end apartments, dining venues and shopping in the heart of Fishermans Bend, an up-and-coming neighborhood near Melbourne’s city center. Guest rooms will offer sweeping views of the city skyline and Yarra River.
True to the brand, the hotel will feature a range of collaborative spaces, including the AC Lounge, a modern co-working space for creative gatherings by day and a buzzing social hub offering European-style tapas by night. The hotel will also offer a range of leisure facilities, including an outdoor, infinity edge, swimming pool spanning the width of the building, a 24-hour fitness center and three food and beverage outlets including the AC Lounge. Meeting and event organizers will be able to take advantage of 150 square meters of space designed to welcome groups of all sizes.
“The signing of AC Melbourne Southbank is a testament to Marriott International’s continued success in Australia, where we currently operate 18 hotels and have 17 in the pipeline,” said Sean Hunt, Area Vice President, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific, Marriott International. “Across Australia, we’re seeing growing demand for lifestyle brands like AC Hotels by Marriott, so we are delighted that we’ve found the right location and the right partner to bring this brand to market.”
“We are really excited to team up with Marriott International to bring a new hotel to Fishermans Bend. We believe in the potential of this area, just as we believed in Melbourne Docklands, and it’s great that Marriott International shares our confidence. Just a stone’s throw from the city, Fishermans Bend is going to redefine inner suburban living and the AC Melbourne Southbank will attract sophisticated and discerning travelers to the area,” said Mohan Du, Founder and Chief Executive, Capital Alliance.
For more information, please visit achotels.marriott.com.
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About AC Hotels by Marriott
AC Hotels by Marriott®, a lifestyle brand that celebrates a new way to hotel complemented by a European soul and Spanish roots, boasts more than 120 design-led hotels in 15 countries and territories. Design-driven AC Hotels by Marriott® edit away the unnecessary to remove friction, providing thoughtfully designed moments of beauty, allowing guests to focus on what’s important to them. The properties modern design for modern business include buzzing AC Lounges, the perfect place for locals or visitors to get work done in style or to enjoy handcrafted cocktails and tapas. High-design guest rooms and public spaces with sleek furnishings and intuitive technology features such as the Media Salons and AC Libraries inspire and connect. AC Hotels by Marriott® is proud to participate in the industry’s award-winning loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®. Members can now link accounts with Starwood Preferred Guest® at
members.marriott.com for instant elite status matching and unlimited points transfer. For more information, visit ac-hotels.com. For more information, visit
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ABOUT MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 6,500 properties in 30 leading hotel brands spanning 127 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. 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
www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit
www.marriottnewscenter.com.
Note on Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities laws, including the number of lodging properties the company may add in future years and similar statements concerning possible future events or expectations that are not historical facts. We caution you that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including changes in market conditions; changes in global and regional economies; supply and demand changes for hotel rooms; competitive conditions in the lodging industry; relationships with clients and property owners; the availability of capital to finance hotel growth and refurbishment; and other risk factors that the company identifies in its most recent annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly report on Form 10-Q; any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations we express or imply here. We make these statements as of the date of this press release, and we assume no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Beverly Cheng
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Alethea Lam
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