WASHINGTON -- Renaissance Hotels & Resorts, an upscale, full-service brand of Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR), announced the opening of the Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa. The resort is the first Renaissance resort in Alabama and is situated at 4000
Grand Avenue, nestled along the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Birmingham.
The 259-room upscale resort is owned and operated by PCH Hotels and Resorts,
the hotel management division affiliated with the Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA).
"While the resort, golf course and amenities are incredible, it is our
staff that brings this resort to life," said Steve Miller, general manager of
Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa. "We have an experienced and
enthusiastic staff that is prepared to take hospitality in Birmingham to a new
level."
Designed for savvy business leaders, as well as the pampered traveler,
each room has a balcony overlooking the golf course. All guest rooms feature
Marriott's new, more luxurious bedding with plusher mattresses, softer sheets
and more pillows. Replacing the traditional hotel bedspread is a down
comforter nestled inside sheeted duvets, which will be freshly laundered for
each new guest. The bedding will feature 300-thread-count, cotton-rich, white
top and fitted bottom sheets, which are among the finest and softest sheets of
any global hotel chain. Also, thicker, more comfortable mattresses with the
addition of two- to four-inch mattress toppers will be featured in the rooms.
The stylized bedding is accented with euro shams, a decorative bed scarf and a
bolster. The guest room bathrooms, with marble flooring, feature a sunken tub
and separate shower. Other amenities in the room include coffee maker, iron
with ironing board, in-room safe, CD player, and cable TV with premium
channels.
In addition to luxurious accommodations and amenities, the resort features
the third longest golf course in the world on 330 acres of pristine fairways.
Considered to be the gem of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trial, the 8,191-yard,
PGA-quality golf course is challengin for skilled players, yet enjoyable for
casual golfers, and offers stunning views, including a 1,000-yard cascading
waterfall and two connecting lakes.
The signature restaurant, Brock's, specializing in steaks, is open for
breakfast, lunch and dinner. JT's Bar & Lounge is opened daily and serves
sushi and light fare. The Clubhouse Rstaurant, with views of the golf greens,
serves breakfast and lunch. The Coffee Shop serves Starbucks coffee
throughout the day. Room service is available 24 hours.
The 12,000-square-foot, full-service spa allows guests to indulge in
massages, body treatments, facials and scrubs in a tranquil, "Zen-like"
atmosphere with bamboo flooring, subtle lighting and soothing colors. Some of
the signature treatments include The Ultimate Caviar Facial, Southern Pine
Rescue body treatment and a Reflexology Massage. A full-service salon is also
available.
Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa is RSA's fifth Marriott-brand
resort. Other RSA-developed Marriott properties on Alabama's RTJ Golf Trail
include the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa in Pt. Clear, the
Montgomery Marriott Prattville Hotel and Conference Center at Capitol Hill in
Prattville, the Auburn Marriott Opelika Hotel and Conference Center at Grand
National in Opelika, and the Marriott Shoals Hotel & Spa in Florence.
Surrounded by mountains and featuring stunning architecture, Renaissance
Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa has a retreat atmosphere, yet lies near the
heart of downtown Birmingham. The resort features 20,000 square feet of
meeting space designed for weddings, corporate meetings and other special
occasions. For more information or reservations, contact the Renaissance Ross
Bridge Golf Resort & Spa at (205) 916-7677, contact the Marriott Worldwide
Reservations Center at (800) 228-9290, or visit
http://www.rossbridgeresort.com

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE: MAR) is a leading lodging company with
more than 2,600 lodging properties in the United States and 65 other countries
and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under
the Marriott, JW Marriott, Renaissance, Bulgari, The Ritz-Carlton, Courtyard,
Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, TownePlace Suites, and Fairfield Inn 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.
It is ranked as the lodging industry's most admired company and one of the
best places to work for by Fortune(R) magazine. In fiscal year 2004, Marriott
International reported sales from continuing operations of $10 billion, and
the company had approximately 133,000 employees at year-end 2004. For more
information or reservations, please visit our web site at
http://www.marriott.com.

SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.
Web Site: http://www.marriott.com http://www.rossbridgeresort.com
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