Press Release
November 5, 2001
PHOENIX, AZ -- Over 600 people gathered on Monday, October 29, 2001 at Marriott’s Desert Ridge Resort & Spa’s
official “topping out” ceremony, celebrating the superb efforts of the resort’s contractors as well as the vision
of CNL Hospitality Corp., and Marriott International. The ceremony marked another integral step in the on-time
construction of the 950-room resort in Northeast Phoenix.
The tradition of “topping out” a building refers to the placing of the last, uppermost piece of structural steel.
Attached to the final beam lifted into place on the resort were an evergreen tree and an American Flag. Following
a custom dating to Viking times, the tree is reported to bring good fortune and ward off evil spirits. In modern
days it also signifies the mid-point of construction.
Slated to open in November 2002, the 950-room resort will offer state-of-the-art amenities in a setting offering
majestic views of the McDowell Mountains. Guests will enjoy nine distinctive dining experiences, a luxurious 28,000
square foot spa, an eight court tennis pavilion and world-class golf on two 18-hole championship courses, the Arnold
Palmer-designed Wildfire course and a second 18- hole course to be designed by Nick Faldo.
When completed, Desert Ridge will boast over 200,000 square-feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space. The resort’s
Grand Canyon Ballroom and the Grand Sonoran Ballroom will be the two largest ballrooms in Phoenix.
“The response from our customers has been outstanding,” said Doug Gennardo, director of sales and marketing. “We
have already booked over 200,000 room nights equaling over $60 million in rooms and catering revenues, of which
80% of the groups are in traditional shoulder time periods. Due to our large size we are able to offer new solutions
to groups that could not have been able to meet in a resort in Arizona before.”
Scheduled to begin construction in Spring of 2002 is Marriott’s Canyon Villas at Desert Ridge by Marriott Vacation
Club International (MVCI). The 252-villa Vacation Ownership resort located along the fairways of Wildfire Golf
Club is scheduled to open July of 2003.
CNL Hospitality Corp. manages a diverse portfolio of nearly $600 million in hotels, comprising 30 properties that
are owned or under commitment to acquire. The company is an affiliate of CNL Financial Group, Inc., one of the
nation’s largest, privately held real estate and financial services companies, headquartered in Orlando, Florida.
CNL Financial Group and the entities it has formed have acquired more than $4.0 billion, representing more than
2,700 properties in 48 states.
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE:MAR) is a leading worldwide hospitality company with nearly 2,400 operating
units in the United States and 63 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, Horizons, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Marriott Grand Residence Club brands;
operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its ExecuStay by Marriott
division; and operates conference centers. Other Marriott businesses include senior living communities and services,
and wholesale food distribution. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has approximately 152,000
employees. In fiscal year 2000, Marriott International reported systemwide sales of $19.8 billion. For more information
or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Terri Worthington, Director of Public Relations (480) 596-7021 Terri.Worthington@Marriott.com
SOURCE: Marriott International, Inc.