Dubai, UAE - 21st April 2014

After celebrating unprecedented occupancy rates for Tower 1 during its inaugural year, the second tower of the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai has officially opened under the leadership of newly appointed General Manager, Bill Keffer.

Owned by Emirates Group, Dubai's first world-class convention and business destination hotel originally opened in November 2012 and was awarded World's Tallest Hotel by the Guinness Book of Records shortly after for its considerable height of 355 metres.

The iconic Tower 2 will feature an additional 804 luxurious suites and rooms, bringing the total room count to 1,608, to be opened gradually throughout the year.  Tower 2 will also introduce a new lounge which will build on the hotel's current 14-strong portfolio of restaurants and lounges. The new offering will have a 72nd floor two tier function space, appealing to events planners worldwide thanks to its breathtaking views of the Dubai skyline.

Leading the hotel team of 1,200 associates and more than 70 nationalities, is newly appointed General Manager, Bill Keffer. Having spent two years as Hotel Manager in the hotel, Keffer is well placed to take on the position of General Manager, having already led the team to significant operational success.

Hailing from the Southern state of Tennessee in the US, Keffer has held managerial positions with Marriott International for 25 years. Beginning his career in the Four Seasons Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Keffer joined Marriott International in his home state of Tennessee some time later, followed by positions in Florida and New York. In 2000, Keffer decided on a move to Asia and spent two years in Japan as the Food and Beverage Director of the Renaissance Hotel, Sapporo, followed by three years in South Korea as Director of Operations in the JW Marriott, Seoul.  2005 saw a move to Europe taking on the role of Area Director of Operations in the United Kingdom and Ireland until 2009, when he came to the UAE as General Manager of Marriott Dubai Harbour Hotel and Suites.

Throughout his career, Keffer has been the recipient of a number of prestigious awards including Continent General Manager of the Year 2012, Continent Hotel of the Year 2011, Global Hotel of the Year for 2011, three individual recognitions for Leadership and Engagement Excellence between 2010 and 2012, Food and Beverage Excellence in 2011, Operational Excellence in Asia Pacific Region 2005 and a special award for 'Investor in People' in Middle East and Africa, 2011. In his past assignments he was actively engaged in local community projects and business councils, winning a "Contribution to Culture" award in the Marriott Business Council and "Spirit to Serve" Community award in Dubai.

Commenting on the tower opening, Bill Keffer, General Manager for the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai said: "The second tower opening has opened at an important time in Dubai's development; recent reports from Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) predict that by 2020, Dubai will receive around 20 million visitors per year. This is due to the country's growing prominence as a MICE destination on the world stage and the recent Expo 2020 win. In light of this we are confident our hotel is in a strong position to cater for the increased number of visitors, particularly because our conference and event facilities are equipped to host over 1,000 people to meet, dine and stay."

Keffer added: "Dubai is an attractive destination for large scale conferences and events - an area the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai specializes in. Not only do we have the right facilities, we have a highly talented team made up of associates from all around the world meaning we are perfectly able to adapt to cultural needs; a key factor in today's global economy. We believe our hotel has the right offering to help Dubai build upon its reputation as the premier global MICE destination and I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead the team to further success"

 In 2013, the hotel won a total of 16 international industry and media awards for a combination of outstanding restaurants and lounges, architecture and design, and innovative business and convention facilities. Serving both the business and leisure traveller, once fully open the two towers will offer 1,608 hotel suites and rooms, 9 diverse restaurants, 6 lounges, the world-class Saray Spa and 8,500 sqm of event space including two ballrooms. Located in the heart of Business Bay, minutes from Dubai World Trade Centre, the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre and close to Dubai International Airport, the JW Marriott Marquis resides in a prime location and is iconic in the Business Bay skyline.

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About JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts
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 64 JW Marriott hotels in 26 countries; by 2016 the portfolio is expected to encompass more than 92 properties over 36 countries. Visit us online, jwmarriott.com, @jwmarriott and facebook.com/JWMarriott

The "Marquis" designation is reserved for select downtown properties that offer the highest level of comfort, technology, personal service, meeting facilities, privacy and world-class amenities.

Visit Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) for company information. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.

© Press Release 2014