Thursday, October 2, 2014

Little Rock Marriott Hosts Grand Opening Festivities; Hotel Promotes Community with Easter Seals Charitable Partnership Announcement

  
Gretchen Hall
 LITTLE ROCK, AR, Oct. 2, 2014—Hotel officials celebrated the grand opening of the 418-room Little Rock Marriott in downtown Little Rock, Ark., with a spectacular gala highlighting the hotel’s prominent place in the community.

 Headlined by the Arkansas Symphony with performances by local school bands, the Razorbacks tailgate themed event was hosted by Davidson Hotels & Resorts, which operates the hotel, and officials from Fairwood Capital, the hotel's owner.

The hotel also announced a charitable partnership with the Easter Seals.  With funds provided by the Marriott Little Rock and Fairwood Capital, Easter Seals will facilitate an in-state college scholarship program. 

On July 4, 2015, the hotel will host the first of a series of events with the 2nd Annual 4th of July Extravaganza with a portion of those additional proceeds donated to the charity.

Patrick Lupsha
General admission guests will be provided a “festival-style” experience that includes dinner, private access to Riverfront Park, the Riverview Room and Riverview Terrace. 

Casual seating is available in the Riverview Room and Terrace while dining. Admission includes dinner, live entertainment and fireworks overlooking the river.

“Today marks a new chapter in Arkansas’ lodging history as we welcome our state’s first and only full-service Marriott hotel to downtown Little Rock,” said Pat Lupsha, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Davidson. 

  “With the completion of our multi-million renovation, the hotel is perfectly positioned to meet the growing needs of the area’s business and leisure travelers.  

"The Marriott name is synonymous with hospitality, making it the perfect choice to usher in a new high-water mark for hospitality in our community.”

Attendees included Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe; Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola; Jim Kauffman, Marriott’s president of North America full-service hotels; Bob Solmson, CEO Fairwood Capital, John Belden, Davidson’s president and CEO; and Gretchen Hall, president and CEO of the Little Rock Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola
To entertain gala guests, the Arkansas Symphony and Mabelvale School all gave moving musical performances.  

The evening concluded with an old fashioned “’Backs Tailgate” party, complete with  trucks, photo booths, the Central High School Band and Cheerleaders and a replay of the “Game of the Century” 1969 Arkansas Razorbacks vs Texas Longhorns.  

Mayor Mark Stodula spoke about the revitalization efforts of downtown.  With the renovation of the Little Rock Marriott, it is expected that the hotel will increase traffic to downtown businesses and spur economic activity. 

  The hotel provides a world class conference facility and hospitality destination making downtown a place for residents of Arkansas and others to visit and enjoy.



For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:

Chris Daly
Daly Gray Public Relations
 (703) 435-6293
 (703) 435-6293

Cyndi Norwood                                                                                
(678) 349-0909  
Davidson Hotels & Resorts                                                             

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