Columbia Sussex Begins Construction On New Myrtle Beach Luxury Marriott Resort.

Business Editors

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 9, 2002

Construction has begun on the newest star on Myrtle Beach, South Carolina's famous Grand Strand. The $50-million dollar Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort at Grande Dunes is scheduled to open in January 2004.

"This will be one of Myrtle Beach's finest attractions offering amenities unrivaled on the Grand Strand," said Bruce Rathje, Vice President of Sales for Columbia Sussex, owner and operator of the luxury facility. "It incorporates the very best balance in convention convenience and recreation."

Columbia Sussex's Marriott Resort is part of the upscale, Grande Dunes community, a 2,200 acre, plantation-style residential and leisure development situated at 82nd Avenue and Ocean Blvd. The Grand Dunes community has an 18-hole championship golf course and oceanfront beach club.

The Resort itself has a European spa, whirlpools, indoor and large tropical beachfront pools, tennis, and fitness center as well as a spacious ocean beach. The 400 luxurious guestrooms all have balconies and most have ocean views. Rooms set a new standard for luxury and convenience

Each is individually climate controlled and has every imaginable convenience including two telephones with separate lines, data ports, voice mail, radios, and cable TV with in-room pay movies.

Guest services include beachfront dining, a beachfront lounge with a patio, room service, business center retail shop, and valet laundry.

The conference center features 45,000 square feet of flexible meeting and banquet space to meet the most demanding requirements. The 15,000 square foot Grand Ballroom divides into eight sections and can accommodate 1,600 for receptions and 1,200 for banquets. There is also a smaller 5,300 square foot Junior Ballroom that divides into two rooms. Two executive boardrooms, four conference rooms, and breakout rooms accommodate smaller groups.

Columbia Sussex Corporation is owner and operator of over 50 resorts and hotels in the United States and Caribbean. Headquartered in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, Columbia Sussex is the largest licensee of full service Marriott Hotels in the United States.