The second JW Marriott-branded hotel in the Middle East will open in January 2003 in central Kuwait City, as a result of the conversion of the existing 291-room Le Meridien Hotel. The hotel is currently undergoing a refurbishment program that is expected to be completed late this year.

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. Kuwait International Airport is located a 15-minute drive away. 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.

“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 Ed Fuller, president and managing director of international lodging for Marriott. “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.”

“Salhia Real Estate Company is very pleased that Marriott International will manage 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. We are also delighted to announce the re-branding of the current Le Meridien Kuwait into a JW Marriott. This comes following 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.”

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.

For dining and entertainment, the JW Marriott Hotel Kuwait City will have 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 will have a health and leisure club, beauty parlor and indoor swimming pool. Other amenities will include a business center, 24-hour room service, in-room mini-bar, laundry/valet service and parking space for 50 automobiles.

For social events and conferences, the JW Marriott Hotel Kuwait City will have 17,743 square feet of flexible meeting space. Included will be a 8,543 square-foot and a 2,420 square-foot ballroom and seven individual meeting rooms of varying sizes.

A collection of 25 hotels in the world now carries the JW Marriott name, including one in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Additional JW Marriott hotels are under construction in Shanghai (2003) and Cairo (2003), as well as in Arizona (2002) and Florida (2003) in the United States and one in Puerto Rico (2005).

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