World's First Dual-Branded AC Hotels By Marriott® And Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts 'Tops Off' Construction In Downtown Denver, Colorado

DENVER, Sept. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Executives, business leaders and community officials were on hand Thursday, September 22 in celebration of the first dual-branded hotel featuring AC Hotels and Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts, in downtown Denver, Colorado. The AC Hotel + Le Méridien Denver Downtown will be managed by White Lodging and is slated to open Summer 2017.

A milestone for the industry and the city, this is the first collaborative project from Marriott International's AC Hotels and Le Méridien brands following the merger with Starwood Hotels & Resorts which completed Friday, September 23.

Welcoming guests to the event, Rachel Benedick, Vice President of Sales and Services for Visit Denver, remarked, "It is a distinct honor when brands like AC Hotels, Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts and White Lodging choose to embark on a project like this in our city.  It demonstrates that Denver is ready to be – already is – an internationally renowned city with brands that global travelers have come to expect in elite metropolitan areas.

Tami Door, President and CEO for the Downtown Denver Partnership said, "Hotel projects like this are forging new frontiers in the global hospitality industry and we are proud that Downtown Denver was chosen as the home for this investment. This project reflects the strength of our market which has seen annual growth over the past five years."

When complete, the dual hotels will add 495 guestrooms, 12,000 square feet of meeting space and four dining outlets, including Denver's highest open-air rooftop bar on the 20^th floor, and destination dining from a Michelin-star restaurant group.

Dual General Manager Paul Eckert commented, "Denver has experienced tremendous growth over the last few years, becoming a world-class destination, where demand is strong for two world-class lifestyle hotel offerings unlike anything the city has seen before. We're honored to be able to steward the introduction of two truly experiential brands and a different level of hospitality to the city."

Le Méridien Denver will feature 272 luxurious rooms along with a full-service restaurant, 24-hour fitness facility, business centre, and Le Méridien Hub™ experience, which transforms the traditional lobby into thoughtfully-design space that brings creative and curious-minded guests and locals together over the brand's signature éclairs and coffee programme curated by the hotel's creative Master Barista.  The impressive full glass building façade will welcome guests with the entrance on California Street. Art and design will immediately provide an element of discovery throughout the public spaces, while the destination of Denver will be woven into the fabric of the interior design throughout the hotel.

Newly introduced to the U.S., the AC Hotels by Marriott property will be the lifestyle brand's first to open in Denver. The brand is known to celebrate the beauty of classic-modern design marrying sophisticated European style with approachable design for a distinctly urban feel, and often featuring simple, clean and crisp lines, The AC Hotel Denver Downtown will have unique elements, which will embody the character of the city and enhance the guests' experience of the destination. The hotel will feature a full brick façade with its entrance and lobby on 15th Street.

"We are delighted to expand our partnership with White Lodging to introduce Le Méridien to Denver in 2017," said Brian Povinelli, Global Brand Leader, Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts. "We have made significant investments to develop the brand, which connects with guests through the art, culture and cuisine in key cities around the world.  We think these passion points are sure to resonate with Denver visitors and local residents alike."

"We are proud to bring AC Hotels' European soul, modern design and entrepreneurial spirit to Denver, we look forward to being an integral part of the Mile-High City's cultural fabric," said Benoit Racle, Global Brand Director, AC Hotels. "Our rapidly growing portfolio of design-led hotels illustrates Marriott International's commitment to making distinctive architecture and design affordable and accessible for creatives and entrepreneurial spirits around the world."

More than 100 guests enjoyed a downtown street fair featuring products from local distilleries, wineries, breweries, beekeepers, celebrated the hotel's Denver spirit; French and Spanish food trucks gave a nod to the two brands' European heritage while the ceremonial last beam was placed.

About White Lodging:
White Lodging Services Corporation was established in 1985 and is headquartered in Merrillville, IN. White Lodging is a fuly integrated hotel ownership, development and operations company focused on developing and operating premium-branded hotels in growing urban markets across the United States. The company is a recognized leader that has defined and cultivated the ability to achieve consistent, sustainable growth among mid- to large-scale hotels. White Lodging has developed over 125 premium branded hotels over the last 25 years and its current managed portfolio consists of 165 hotels in 19 states including representation of the following leading brands: Marriott International, Inc., Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Global, Preferred Hotels & Resorts and InterContinental Hotel Group. For more information about White Lodging, please visit www.whitelodging.com.

About Le Méridien
With more than 100 Hotels & Resorts worldwide and the strongest, most globally diverse portfolio in its history, the Paris-born Le Méridien brand connects the curious and creative-minded traveller to unexpected and engaging experiences within their destination. With its brand promise of "Destination Unlocked," Le Méridien has transformed numerous guest touch points through global partnerships with creative minds such as illy, Johnny Iuzzini, Gray Malin, and Nouvelle Vague. Plans call for dynamic portfolio expansion within the next five years in some of the world's most exciting destinations, concentrating on markets in Asia-Pacific and the Americas. For more information, please visit LeMéridien.com or follow us on social media – Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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 90 design-led hotels in Brazil, Denmark, Italy, France, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, and the United States. Design-driven AC Hotels edit away the unnecessary to remove friction, providing thoughtfully designed moments of beauty, allowing guests to focus on what's important to them. Property highlights include high-design guest rooms and public spaces with sleek furnishings and intuitive technology features. For more information, visit ac-hotels.com.
For more information, visit http://achotels.marriott.com.

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Media Contacts:
Kathleen Quilligan Sebastian
White Lodging
E: Kathleen.sebastian@whitelodging.com
T: 219-472-2861

Laura Pettitt
Turner PR
E: laura.pettitt@turnerpr.com
T: 303-824-0008

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SOURCE White Lodging