Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) announced that Houston’s historic Humble Oil Building, the city’s first air-conditioned office building and now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has been reborn with the opening of a 191-room moderately-priced Courtyard by Marriott and 171-suite Residence Inn by Marriott, the company’s extended-stay hotel brand.
Located in downtown Houston, the two hotels are part of a $70 million historic redevelopment project owned in partnership by Kimberly-Clark and Leddy Ventures, Ltd. Housing Horizons, a subsidiary of Kimberly-Clark, is majority owner. The beautifully restored neo-classical building also houses a new 82-unit luxury apartment high-rise, Humble Tower, managed by Westdale Asset Management of Dallas.
Originally the headquarters of Humble Oil and Refining Company (now ExxonMobil Corporation), the building is actually a complex of three phased-in structures. The original 1921 structure is a nine-story, I-shaped building that houses the Courtyard hotel. The next phase, a 17-story tower completed in 1936, is now Humble Tower; and the 1940 building is home to the new Residence Inn.

The new Courtyard and Residence Inn, both equipped with high-speed internet access, are downtown Houston’s first Marriott-branded hotels and the first moderately priced and extended stay hotels, respectively, in the city’s revitalized downtown district. Preserved are the Humble Oil Building’s original rose marble, ornately designed bronze elevators and neoclassical architecture.

Both new hotels are offering Weekend Escape Packages, good through December 31, 2003, beginning at $79 for Courtyard and $89 for Residence Inn. Both hotels’ Weekend Escape Packages, for which a limited number of rooms are available, include a “Buy One, Get The Second One at 50%” lunch at the Humble Café and a 15%-off shopping coupon at Foley’s department store, located across the street. The Weekend Packages are valid for a Friday and/or Saturday night stay, and restrictions apply.
Regular introductory rates, good through September 14, 2003, begin at $149 for Courtyard and $159 for Residence Inn. For reservations visit www.courtyard.com/houdt or www.residenceinn.com/hourd) or contact the hotels directly at (832) 366-1600 (Courtyard by Marriott) or (832) 366-1000 (Residence Inn by Marriott).
Residence Inn is an all-suite hotel with studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites. Designed for longer stays, each suite has a fully equipped kitchen with coffee maker, microwave oven, full-sized appliances and a large work desk. A complimentary hot daily breakfast buffet, daily housekeeping, complimentary grocery shopping services and complimentary weekday social hours are available. Pets are welcomed.

Courtyard caters to discriminating business travelers and weekend leisure guests. Spacious guest rooms feature either a king-size bed or two double beds, a seating area with sofa bed or oversized chair, a large, well-lit work desk, high speed internet access, and two telephones equipped with data ports. Other in-room amenities include coffee maker, hair dryer, iron with ironing board, and cable television with free premium movie channels. The new Courtyard also features 10 suites with a king-size bed, refrigerator and microwave oven, and one king-size suite with a whirlpool spa.
There are six meeting rooms between the two hotels, including the Humble Suite, originally the Humble Executive Board Room, with its 25-foot domed ceiling and signature grand marble fireplace. Occupying part of the 6,000 square-foot street-level commercial retail space is The Humble Café, a casual dining restaurant operated by Courtyard. Unique among other Courtyards, The Humble Café, open seven days a week to guests and the public for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and featuring New American Cuisine, also provides room service to both hotels.

Both hotels participate in the company’s award-winning Marriott Rewards® program, which enables members to earn their choice of points toward free vacations or frequent flyer mileage in their preferred airline program for dollars spent at more than 2,300 Marriott hotels in 56 countries.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE:MAR) is a leading worldwide hospitality company with nearly 2,600 lodging properties in the United States and 66 other countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Ramada International brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club International, Horizons, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Marriott Grand Residence Club brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., has approximately 129,000 employees, and was ranked as the lodging industry`s most admired company and one of the best places to work for by FORTUNE®. For more information or reservations, please visit the web site at www.marriott.com.
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