New San Diego Hotel Project Includes Walkway Connecting Downtown to the Bay

SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwired - Dec 11, 2013) - As one of the most prominent hotels in the area, the San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina is not only a draw for visitors, but a pillar of the community. The hotel's latest project will benefit both in a big way. The San Diego Board of Port Commissioners recently approved the San Diego, CA hotel's expansion and improvement project, which will include a long-awaited connection between downtown and the Bay.

The downtown San Diego hotel project will increase the hotel's meeting space to over 120,000 sq. feet to include two new state of the art 36,000 sq. foot ballrooms, a 25,000 sq. foot outdoor Marina Terrace; and a Marina Walk; a public walkway that will connect Harbor Drive to the Embarcadero Promenade. While the project is certainly no small job, it will come at no cost to San Diego taxpayers, and will benefit the local community by creating jobs and a new entry point for public access to San Diego Bay.

"The San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina project is a great example of a 'win-win' tenant improvement that benefits the public in several important ways," Chair Ann Moore of the Board of Port Commissioners says. "Most importantly, it will establish a long-awaited new public walkway where people can stroll from downtown San Diego to the waterfront."

Construction of the project is set to begin by early 2015 and is due to be completed within 18 months. Details on the environmentally responsible design include:

Marriott Grand Ballroom and Pacific Ballroom: The current building will be demolished and replaced by a larger building with two enhanced ballrooms and meeting services. The public side will face Harbor Drive and feature large expanses of clear glass that overlook the city and the bay.

Marina Walk: The new landscaped walkway will connect downtown and the Bay and be open to the public. Along the path, visitors will enjoy views of the marina, parks and Bay through the removal of existing obstructions such as the large cooling towers. Other features will include bike racks, benches, a wheelchair accessible ramp, public art and decorative paving.

Marina Terrace: The 25,000-square-foot paved, outdoor event area will be used for hotel events and also open to the public to host seasonal events, food carts and seating areas.

For more information on the project, please visit www.portofsandiego.org/san-diego-marriott-marquis-marina.html. 

About the San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina
The city is beautiful year-round, and whether in town to attend a conference at the San Diego Convention Center or just enjoy some fun in the sun, the San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina offers the perfect stay. Set along the San Diego Bay and just steps from the trendy Gaslamp Quarter, this hotel near Coronado Island, San Diego combines the modern amenities of a business hotel with the recreational amenities of a vacation resort. Business meetings, retreats, weddings and celebrations are elegantly hosted in the hotel's 75,000 square feet of event space; for added convenience, San Diego International Airport is just 10 minutes away. When it's time to unplug, choose from two free-form heated outdoor pools, a fitness center with yoga classes, a bike trail, a whirlpool and a 446-slip marina with kayaking, sailing, jet-skiing and more; championship golf is also nearby. Each of the 1,360 guest rooms is comfortable, beautiful and spacious, offering breathtaking views of the city, Bay and Coronado Island. Stay productive with a desk, high-speed wireless Internet access, in-room dining and coffee/tea service, or relax on a luxurious featherbed watching shows and movies on the 32-inch flat-screen cable TV. For an upgraded stay, opt for a concierge-level room, which includes access to the private lounge. Adventure can be found nearby at Balboa Park, LEGOLAND California, San Diego Zoo, Cabrillo Monument National Park and Sea World San Diego. For a culinary adventure, try any of the hotel's venues including Marina Kitchen serving modern American comfort fare; Roy's, a waterfront restaurant offering Euro-Asian fusion cuisine; and the poolside Tequila Bar & Grille. Connect on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sandiegomarriottmarquisandmarina.