Marriott Celebrates the Grand Opening of the First Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in NoMa

First Hispanic-Owned Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Bethesda, MD.- News media are invited to the grand opening of the new Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in NoMa on Wednesday, June 3, 2009. Following the ceremony from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m., media are invited to join guests at a reception and take guided hotel tours from noon to 2:30 p.m.

Located just steps from the New York Avenue Metro station at 1325 2nd Street, N.E. in Washington, D.C., this is NoMa’s first hotel and the first Hispanic-owned hotel in the city and a shining example of Marriott’s Diversity Ownership Initiative, which bridges the gap between successful minority business owners and the hospitality industry. The NoMa Courtyard by Marriott features Courtyard’s “refreshing business” concept designed by and for business travelers, as well as a green roof and direct access to both Metro and the Metropolitan Branch Trail. Officials invited to participate in the event include:

• D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty
• Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton
• Council Chairman Vincent Gray
• Council Member At Large Kwame Brown
• Council Members Harry Thomas and Tommy Wells
• Robert Finvarb, Esq., Principal, Robert Finvarb Companies (majority owner)
• David Wilmot, Esq., Principal, Harmon, Wilmot & Brown & Bagwell, LLP (owner)
• Craig Welburn, Principal, Welburn Hospitality (owner)
• Barron Harvey and Tom Hopkins (owners)
• Angela Gonzalez-Rowe, President and Founder, Hispanic Hotel Owners Association
• Elizabeth Price, President, NoMa Business Improvement District
• Brian King, Vice President and Global Brand Manager, Courtyard by Marriott
• Ray Bennett, Senior Vice President, Lodging and Development, Marriott
International, Inc.
• Kathleen Matthews, Executive Vice President, Global Communications and Public Affairs, Marriott International, Inc.