March 26, 2015 – JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts, the distinctive sophisticated brand of Marriott International (NASDAQ:MAR), announces today that its new hotel, JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa has soft opened ahead of its grand opening celebration on 24 June 2015. The 250-room property was designed in collaboration with award-winning Italian architectural firm Matteo Thun & Partners and combines the very best in contemporary hotel design with the heritage and elegance of its premiere location on its own private island, Isola delle Rose (Rose Island).

The hotel buildings have been sensitively refurbished by Matteo Thun & Partners to incorporate sustainable, modern and elegant design, bringing the historic buildings and parklands of Isola delle Rose back to life as a world-class urban resort. A destination in itself, the hotel will offer an unparalleled resort experience with facilities that include an extensive spa, rooftop infinity pool and four restaurants including the fine dining Italian restaurant, Dop0lavoro Dining Room.

Guests can choose from five distinct accommodation experiences, each offering a unique ambience and view – The Hotel with its 191 guest rooms, most with wide glass walls and private balconies overlooking the extensive cultivated gardens beyond. La Residenza, (opening late April) with its 12 guest rooms designed in a fresh Mediterranean style, featuring parquet flooring in soft earthy tones that lead out to private gardens by the spa and lagoon. L’Uliveto (opening late April) presents a rural garden setting with its 26 guest rooms and views over the ancient olive groves. La Maisonette (opening late April) offers 20 split level suites all with private patios and gardens and some with pools overlooking the canal, olive groves and church. Lastly La Villa Rose, an exclusive private retreat with two bedrooms set in a private garden with a pool.

“The opening of our first property in Italy marks a time of great growth and development for the JW Marriott brand and this will be celebrated by a spectacular opening event in June,” said Mitzi Gaskins, vice president and global brand manager for JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts. “The new JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa exemplifies the elegance and service that have become synonymous with our brand worldwide, incorporating modern design elements with authentic Venetian offerings to create a truly genuine experience in a culturally rich market.”

With over 40 acres (16 hectares) to explore, guests can discover numerous gardens and outdoor areas scattered with landscaped spots for quiet contemplation. Fruit arbours, olive groves and cultivated plots provide fresh ingredients for the property’s diverse food and drink offerings, including a cooking school and wine academy. Restored structures scattered around the island house a range of facilities including a picturesque events space in an original church.

In keeping with JW Marriott’s refined but informal ethos and commitment to personalised service, the 1,750-metre spa, operated by GOCO Hospitality will open by early May and will be the largest in Venice, offering both bespoke treatments and a range of classic spa rituals from product houses including !QMS Medicosmetics and Amala. It also has an indoor and outdoor aqua-tonic pool, a health club, eight treatment rooms, a hammam and luxury spa suite.

Additional hotel facilities include a kid’s club and dedicated family pool, water sports such as Venetian rowing and sailing and a sensational rooftop pool offering dramatic views across the lagoon to St. Mark’s Square, which can be reached by private boat in just fifteen minutes.

JW Marriott Venice is the brand’s sixth European property and first resort in Europe. Additional global openings include JW Marriott Bodrum, Turkey (May 2015); JW Marriott Cabo San Lucas Resort, Mexico (fall 2015) and JW Marriott Vancouver Place Stadium, British Columbia, Canada (2016).

For more information, visit jwmarriottvenice.com.

All JW Marriott hotels and resorts participate in Marriott Rewards, Marriott International’s award-winning guest loyalty program, where guests can earn points at more than 4,000 hotels in over 70 countries.