la Frontera In the News
Round Rock Leader
February 26, 2001
Marriott officials hoping to add unique 'experience' to Round Rock
by Marcial Guajardo, Leader Staff
The city’s new Marriott is still almost three months from opening, but you wouldn’t realize that by looking at the sales accounts already made with the hotel.
Officials with the Austin Marriott North at Round Rock, being built in the La Frontera commerce center, announced Wednesday they have made $2.3 million in advance bookings of meetings and events from corporations and private individuals requesting to use the facility after it opens. Although that amount represents two-thirds of the company’s sales goal, hotel officials aren’t getting carried away by the response.
“We’re doing very well compared to other hotels,” said hotel general manager Kyle Covington calmly.
Covington lead a contingency of area leaders and developers around the hotel Wednesday for a hard-hat tour of the facility, located off Hesters Crossing Road at 2600 La Frontera Blvd. The local facility will be one of six Marriott locations nationwide providing service to a nearby corporate campus when it opens May 14. This time, that corporation will be Dell Computer Corp., about a half-mile away.
“We want this to be more than just a hotel,” Covington said. “It will be an experience.”
The ‘experience’ includes a 7,500 square-feet main ballroom - the space can seat 600 people and be divided into three rooms — as well as its indoor pool, 295 guest rooms, eight executive meeting rooms, RiverCity Grille Restaurant and Lounge, Concierge Level and catering services.
Board rooms include tables with data ports, allowing travelers to plug in their lap top computers. The restaurant, able to seat 150 people, has a state-of-the-art kitchen. Staff members will move through hidden passageways while delivering room service. Bell staff and valet parking are given amenities.
Georgette George, a sales account manager, said she is inundated with bookings after spending weekends looking for potential customers by sending e-mail to sports, religious and other social entities in the area.
“People have just been waiting for us to call,” George said. “This really is the perfect place (for a sales manager).”
Rooms will begin at $149, with special prices to be offered throughout the year. The hotel also includes four suites, each with a jacuzzi and additional amenities.
The Marriott will employ 150-200 people. Hotel officials are currently hiring upper level staff members.
With the Marriott, La Frontera diversifies itself a little more than it already has. A retail shopping center, including several restaurants, opened last July, and joined this year by an apartment complex. Work has also begun on two commercial projects in the La Frontera business sector, “net.plex.,” and planning is under way on a second retail center to be located along the project’s western corridor.
The Austin Marriott North at Round Rock is a joint venture between Marriott International, The Western and Southern Life Insurance Company/Eagle Realty Group and Winegardner & Hammons, Inc. of Cincinnati.
