The new 600-acre, 1,002-room resort was designed to honor its Texas roots and sustainability

SAN ANTONIO, July 27, 2010 — Situated on 600 acres and surrounded by the rolling green hills and dense woodlands of the Texas Hill Country, the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa opened on in early 2010 and has quickly become one of the Southwest’s premier destination resorts. Designed to honor both Texas roots and sustainability, one of the resort’s biggest draws is its expansive, native-to-Texas outdoor recreation and water features, designed by TBG Partners, one of Texas’ leading landscape architecture and planning firms. Other amenities and features include 1,002 guest rooms, 140,000 square feet of meeting space, a luxurious spa, seven restaurant and dining options, a media-rich sports bar and two 18-hole Tournament Players Club (TPC) golf courses.

Located just 20 minutes from the San Antonio International Airport, the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa offers the beauty of the Texas Hill Country combined with nearby city and resort luxury conveniences. Inspired by its location at the base of the Texas Hill Country and its sweeping views of a natural landscape (bordered by a bird sanctuary and edged by white limestone cliffs), the design scheme celebrates and reflects the rich cultural history and natural beauty of the area. Specific amenities and features include:

Landscape, Water Features and Outdoor Recreation

Encompassing six acres of the resort is the River Bluff Water Experience, integrating pools, fountains, waterfalls, rivers and an abundance of poolside lounges to soak in the sun. Highlights include a 1,200-foot lazy river that meanders through lush landscaping of native trees and brilliant flowers, and Pedernales Falls, a thrilling, fast-moving 350-foot rapids river ride that begins at the top of a natural bluff and cuts into native rock, quickly turning into an action river ride with rapids and swirling eddies, eventually throwing guests into the lazy river.  Other outdoor recreational features include a serene infinity-edge adult pool, which is located on a bluff overlooking the golf courses, hot and cold plunge pools, cascading waterfalls, whirlpools, a children’s pool area with two kiddie slides (4’ ht and 6’ ht. above the water), and a grand “active” pool, which serves as the centerpiece of the resort’s activity area.

Most outdoor recreation and water structures were designed to blend rock with rough-hewn wood and exposed steel fasteners to provide a more authentic Texas look and feel, while rocking chairs, gliders and casual furnishings are positioned under large native trees – both preserved and planted – all providing for a casual and relaxing environment. The resort’s landscape design also includes a 100-acre bird sanctuary, native grasses and plants, towering pecan, cedar and oak trees, crystal clear streams, healing waters, rolling hills, wide-open spaces and rustic materials such as limestone and hardwood, all of which complement the area’s diverse terrain.

“An important design challenge for the resort was to maintain the charming mix of old-fashioned Texas hospitality with all the amenities and activities expected at a world-class luxury resort,” said Jim Manskey, principal at TBG Partners. “For example, distinctive and recognizable natural features of the Texas Hill Country region – including sections of the Pedernales River – were used as inspiration for the falls, slides and overall environment around the resort. Another example would be the lazy river. It is recessed in the ground by four to five feet and lined with limestone rock outcroppings, just like any river in the Hill Country. Basically, all water features were orchestrated to create a true Texas experience and designed to appeal to all demographics – honeymooners, families with kids, outdoor enthusiasts and business travelers who shun the idea of all work and no play.”

World-Class Accommodations Blended with Texas Hospitality

The resort’s 1,002 rooms, including 85 suites, reflect the comfortable style and hospitality of the Texas Hill Country. The spacious rooms feature custom-designed furniture and finishes that make use of hand-tooled leather, copper and ironwork used throughout the property. Spacious bathrooms also feature the serenity that visitors expect from a luxury resort experience.

Championship Golf

Golfers can test their skills on the newest PGA TOUR Tournament Players Club (TPC) championship golf courses with 36 challenging holes and stunning views. Two of golf’s most legendary names designed the courses – Pete Dye for the AT&T Canyons Course and Greg Norman for the AT&T Oaks Course. The Norman-designed course is the new official home to the annual Valero Texas Open, which took place in May 2010.  The club is private and only accessible to members and resort guests.

Unmatched Convention and Meeting Facilities

With more than 140,000 square feet of customizable indoor space, the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa offers the most expansive event and convention space in the region. The resort has a host of options available to accommodate groups both large and small, including:

• 40,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom
• 40,000-square-foot Exhibit Hall
• 21,000-square-foot Junior Ballroom
• 10,000+ square-foot Pre-Function Space
• 19 Meeting Breakout Rooms
• Three distinctive outdoor venues, ideal for weddings and receptions

Relaxation and Rejuvenation

The resort’s 26,000-square-foot spa offers 30 treatment rooms, including two couple’s treatment suites with fireplaces. Two outdoor private treatment rooms are also available. A complete fitness center and studio features the latest in cardio-training equipment, free weights, and stationary weight training equipment as well as yoga and other fitness classes. Between treatments, guests can enjoy the peaceful serenity of the private, lagoon-like pool, healthy refreshments at the spa’s café or shop at the spa’s boutique.

Dining and Sports

The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa offers seven distinct dining options. Each restaurant and lounge features imaginative menus, cocktails and beverages with a focus on fresh, sustainable and organic ingredients. The resort’s casual restaurant, Cibolo Moon, serves authentic Texas cuisine that captures the unique flavors of the region. Located at the Golf Clubhouse, 18 Oaks features sweeping views of the 18th greens of the two TPC golf courses and showcases prime cuts and traditional steakhouse fare. High Velocity Sports Bar, the resort’s media-rich sports venue, puts guests right in the middle of the action with wall-to-wall multimedia screens featuring a variety of sport channels.

Green Features

• TPC San Antonio Golf Courses: The 36-hole PGA TOUR golf facility will be certified by the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program.
• Closed-Loop Water System: The resort’s golf courses feature a closed-loop water system that catches water runoff, which is reused back on the courses. In the words of Tim Finchem, commissioner of the PGA TOUR, “These will be the most ecologically friendly courses built in the United States.”
• Low VOC Paint and Glue: The resort utilizes all low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) products.
• Bird Sanctuary: The 100 acres north of the golf courses are home to a bird sanctuary for the endangered Golden Cheek Warbler.
• Every Tree Accounted For: All trees on the golf course and resort were numbered and tagged during the construction phase to ensure all were saved.
• Recycled Steel Studs: The interior walls are supported by recycled steel studs, rather than traditional wood studs. For each ton of steel recycled, 2,500 pounds of iron ore, 1,000 pounds of coal and 40 pounds of limestone were saved.
• Smart Air-Conditioners: The heating and cooling system features a “smart system,” which recognizes when doors to the balcony are open and automatically shut down to conserve energy.
• Low-Flow Showerheads: Low-flow showerheads were installed in all guest baths. Low-flow is commonly defined as having a water consumption rate of 0.5 to two gallons per minute (gpm).
• Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs: Energy Star-qualified Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLBs) were used throughout the resort. CFLBs use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.
• Linen Program: The Linen Program gives guests the option to have their linen changed every third day, instead of every day, saving water resources and reducing the use of detergents.
• Low-Flow Toilets: Low-flow toilets were installed in all bathrooms. Approximately 1.6 gallons per flush will be used versus the seven gallons of water of yesteryear.

Project Team

The resort was developed by Miller Global Properties and is now operated by Marriott International. Other project team members include Noble Development Group as the project manager; HKS Inc. as the architect; TBG Partners as the landscape architect and site planner; ForrestPerkins as the interior designer; Water Technologies Inc. as aquatics consultant/ contractor; and Austin Commercial as the general contractor. The golf courses were designed by two of the most respected forces in the golf industry, Pete Dye and Greg Norman, with Tour professionals Sergio Garcia and Bruce Lietzke serving as player consultants. Golf Course Properties, Inc., a subsidiary of PGA TOUR, is managing the courses.

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ABOUT TBG PARTNERS

As one of the top landscape architecture and planning firms in the Southwest, TBG Partners designs mixed-use and residential communities, corporate campuses, civic buildings, resorts, healthcare and educational facilities, city parks and historic sites. With a strong commitment to the advancement of sustainable design principles, TBG encourages its employees to become LEED Accredited Professionals and its clients to utilize green building practices for their projects. Established in 1987, TBG has offices in Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. For more information, please visit www.tbg-inc.com

ABOUT JW MARRIOTT

JW Marriott is part of Marriott International’s luxury portfolio and consists of beautiful properties in gateway cities and distinctive resort locations around the world. These elegant hotels cater to today’s sophisticated, self-assured travelers, offering them the quiet luxury they seek in a warmly authentic, relaxed atmosphere lacking in pretense. JW Marriott properties artfully provide highly crafted, anticipatory experiences that are reflective of their locale so that their guests have the time to focus on what is most important to them. Currently, there are 45 JW Marriott hotels in 19 countries; by 2013, the portfolio will encompass 73 properties in 28 countries.  For more information, visit www.marriott.com.

Media Contact: Claire Bloxom
claire@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191