Two top officers of Marriott International - one a brand manager, the other the company's chief executive - offer two perspectives in describing why the new Renaissance Tampa Hotel International Plaza was an enticing property to them.
"Hotels are about three things: business travel, family travel and romance," said Jurgen Giesbert, senior vice president of Renaissance North America. "This property, which we've given a romantic theme that's carried throughout the decor, has all three."
But to Bill Marriott, chairman and chief executive, it's all about real estate. The hotel is located next to an airport in the geographic heart of the region and part of a shopping mall with a regional audience.
"Hotels are about three things: location, location, location," said the son of the chain's founder.
The Renaissance become the sixth Marriott property in the Westshore area of Tampa. There are now 1,332 rooms or suites under various Marriott flags within 1.5 miles of the airport. In contrast, the length of the Pinellas beaches has one Marriott with 222 suites.
