Renaissance Sydney to become Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel

The 579-room Renaissance Sydney Hotel will be renamed the Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel following a $35 million refurbishment program that is currently underway.

The hotel is owned by The Commonwealth Property Hotel Fund (CPHF), a $253 million wholesale fund managed by Colonial First State Property Group, and has been managed by Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) since 1997.

Located at 30 Pitt Street, Sydney, the Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel is the eighth Australian property in Marriott International’s lodging portfolio.

“We are excited about becoming a Marriott hotel,” said Mr. Brian Czechowski, general manager, Sydney Harbour Marriott. “The Marriott brand is recognized globally for its consistency, dependability and genuine caring for its guests. The arrival of a second Sydney property to carry this brand strengthens our position in Australia’s gateway city.”

Marriott-branded hotels are currently represented in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Surfers Paradise. Under the Marriott portfolio of brands, Courtyard by Marriott is represented in Parramatta, New South Wales, and Surfers Paradise, Queensland, with the Ramada brand due to open its first Australian property in Melbourne, Victoria, November 2002.

The rebrand project involves full refurbishment of guest rooms and the reinvigoration of the food and beverage facilities, including the addition of a new restaurant and lobby bar and the expansion of the conference facilities. Public areas, including the health club, lobby and executive lounge, will also receive extensive refurbishment. The property will operate throughout all stages of the refurbishment, with minimum disruption to daily operations.

The refurbishment program began in October 2002 and is scheduled be completed by June 2003. The hotel will be rebranded the Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel in the first quarter of 2003. The property is in a prime location at Circular Quay, and many rooms have views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

As a member of Marriott’s lodging portfolio, the Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel will participate in the company’s award-winning Marriott Rewards frequent guest program, the world’s largest hotel guest loyalty program with more than 17 million members. Under this program, travelers can earn points for every dollar they spend in the hotel. These points can be exchanged for a range of travel benefits.

"We are confident that our guests and neighbors will welcome the addition of the Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel to Sydney’s tourism infrastructure,” said Mr Czechowski.

“On completion of the refurbishment, this harbor-front property will become Marriott’s flagship hotel in Sydney, ” said Mr Czechowski.

Marriott International’s Australian-based Global Sales office and the Marriott Global Rewards group for Australia will be relocated to the hotel.