RENAISSANCE AND MARRIOTT NEWS FOR THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION

The Renaissance Sydney Hotel won the Australian Hotel Association’s award for Outstanding Community Service in its work with Starlight Children’s Foundation, Clean Up Australia and the Sydney Opera House. The hotel also received a certificate of recognition as part of the 2001 Alice S. Marriott Award for Community Service.

The Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa is now the hotel’s official name, replacing “Marriott Royal Garden Riverside Hotel Bangkok.”

The Hua Hin Marriott Resort & Spa recently opened. Located 238km south of Bangkok on the beach side Gulf of Siam, the resort integrates historic Thai architecture and offers world-class service, with conference facilities for up to 150 guests. Six restaurants serve everything from Thai to Italian cuisine, including a traditional Steakhouse serving certified U.S. and Australian beef.

The Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort is undergoing a $60 million modernization. Public areas, guestrooms, restaurants, meeting facilities, the lobby area and porte cochere will be redesigned and refurbished to reflect Hawaii’s tropical beauty and Marriott’s high standards. The renovations are scheduled to be done by May 2002.

The Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki Hotel on Oahu, Hawaii, is emabarking on a restoration project that will create a fresh and inviting facility for visitors and locals to enjoy. The project is scheduled to be completed by December 2001.

The China Hotel by Marriott in Guangzhou presents a golf package through December 31. US$168/day ($188 for double occupancy) includes business-floor accommodations, buffet breakfast, lunch at the Golf Club, 18 hole greens fee and a one-way transfer to/from Golf Club.

The Chongqing Marriott Hotel has introduced a luxury 30-seat coach service that runs from Chongqing to Chengdu. This specially equipped coach suits business and leisure travelers alike. There’s also a special summer room rate from June through August, RMB 538 with an additional RMB 140 upgrade to executive floor. In Food & Beverage, five guests can eat for the price of four at the Marriott Café during the daily lunch buffet in July and August. All guests who dine in the Mikado restaurant or Manhattan steakhouse will get a coupon for a free drink, for the cigar bar or view lounge, to be used on the day it is issued.

The Shanghai Marriott Hotel Hongqiao offers special wedding packages from RMB2688 net to RMB3688 net; packages include a lavish 14-course Chinese set dinner or Western buffet dinner, wedding party background décor, personalized signing bible, floral centerpiece on each dining table and reception table, three-tier dummy wedding-cake cutting ceremony, decorated Executive Suite for one night including breakfast with traditional Wedding box, buffet breakfast for two at Marriott Café, complimentary fruit basket upon check in, bridal room late check out till 4 PM, three-hour unlimited supply of soft drink and local beer, cork fee waived for self bring-in beverages. In Food & Beverage, the hotel features an Asian-Western buffet (including seafood, sushi, Chinese hot pot and sparkling wine) for Sunday Brunch, RMB188 + 15% surcharge per adult (reduced rates for children between four and 12 years). Kids under four are free; and there’s a playground with plenty of toys and drawing materials at Champions Bar.

The New World Renaissance Hotel, Makati City has a summer promotion through Sept. 15, US$199/$129 (single/double), including buffet breakfast at the Coffee Shop. Weekend discounted rates are US$57 per night (Friday and Saturday only) in a deluxe room, until August 31.

The Renaissance Kota Bharu Hotel gives guest information about the “Colours of Malaysia” cultural festival, which includes several events in Kelantan. A special school holiday getaway package for September, November and December 2001 includes a deluxe room and RM99 food and beverage credit at the hotel’s restaurants and lounges for each night’s stay (RM198nett single or double per deluxe room per night).

Special winter rates at the Renaissance Sydney Hotel include a 25 percent food & beverage discount voucher that can be used from Sunday morning to Friday evening. Continuing the hotel’s Artist in Residence program, photographer Peter Norton will exhibit his recent Antarctic photos on the hotel’s gallery levels through August. Norton permanently displays his Hunter Valley photos in Raphael’s Wine Bar. All works are limited edition and available for purchase.

The Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel offers a cool deal for the hot summer through Sept. 15; this RM270 package brings a deluxe room in the Renaissance Wing, daily buffet breakfast and an upgrade to Executive Deluxe room with a minimum 3-night stay. Deeper savings can be found in a stay at the New World Wing. The hotel’s 24-hour gym and Olympic-sized pool make it a compelling getaway choice.

The Jing Guang New World Hotel has a summer promotion through September 15, with money-saving discounts on rooms (US$90/100 single/double) and discounts on airport transfer, food & beverage outlets (except Meigetsukan and San Si Ro restaurants), and laundry; free buffet breakfast, free use of the Health Club and swimming pool, sauna and jacuzzis; and late checkout until 4 PM.

As part of Marriott’s Spirit to Serve Our Community Day, Marriott and Renaissance Resorts in Hawaii took part in the 23rd Annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk, helping raise $812,000 for local charities. Along the walk routes on four islands, hotel- and industry-sponsored checkpoints featured live entertainment, delicious food and fun games.

Wailuku Public Library on the island of Maui got a facelift with the help of Renaissance Wailea Beach Resort. The hotel provided more than 80 gallons of plaint, plus supplies. Built in 1929 and registered as a historic site, the library had not been painted in 10 years.

Just in time to celebrate Associate Appreciation Week, Renaissance Inya Lake Hotel associates finished rebuilding a new kitchen, dining hall and toilets at the Htauk Kyan Special Children Home, which houses 150 children. Associates have sponsored the Home since 1997. This two-month project upgraded hygiene and sanitation.

Renaissance Sydney Hotel offered three nights’ accommodation at Renaissance London Heathrow Hotel as an auction prize at the Starlight Children’s Foundation (a charity that grants wishes to sick children) Brisbane Five Chef’s Dinner on March 19. Other major auction items included Qantas business-class airfares and tickets to NatWest Series Final at Lord’s ground passes to Wimbledon. The auction overall raised $100,000.

Asia/Pacific Hot Openings 2001

JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai, 362 rooms, China
JW Marriott Resort & Spa Phuket, 265 rooms, Thailand
Melbourne Marriott Hotel, 185 rooms, Australia
Pudong Shanghai Courtyard by Marriott, 218 rooms, China
Shanghai Marriott Executive Apartments, 237-units, China
The Mayfair, Marriott Executive Apartments, 162-units, Thailand