AUSTIN, Texas
JW Marriott Austin hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to commemorate the official groundbreaking of Austin's largest hotel, and JW Marriott's largest U.S. hotel to date.
Slated to open in early 2015, JW Marriott Austin announced yesterday that more than 71,000 rooms have already been booked at the new 1,200,000-square-foot hotel. The hotel is located on the square block bounded by Second and Third Streets and Brazos Street and Congress Avenue in downtown Austin.
The hotelier also announced it has booked several industry conventions—which without the additional rooms from the JW Marriott would not be able to come to Austin—including the Specialty Tools and Fasteners Distributors Association and the Association of American Medical Colleges. Each convention will bring approximately 3,000 attendees to Austin.
The 34-story, 1,012-room hotel will feature 35 meeting rooms and more than 110,000 square feet of meeting, banquet and exhibition space, food and beverage venues, underground parking and a 3,500-square-foot fitness center.
The JW Marriott is expected to generate 2,500 jobs during its two-year construction. Upon opening, the hotel will employ more than 700 people.
In line with the city's goal of more pedestrian traffic downtown, more than 1,000 people are expected to enter and leave the hotel each day, mostly on foot, through the main hotel entrance on Second St. The JW Marriott will create a visual connection with the Austin Convention Center and the Second St. Retail District and generate significantly more pedestrian traffic along Congress Ave. and Second St.
