LOS ANGELES, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 13, the new JW Marriott Hotel Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE and its sister property, The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles, provided a sneak preview of the hotels as the site of the annual Spirit of Life gala, which raised nearly $9 million for lifesaving cancer research, treatment and education programs at City of Hope. Featuring a performance by Jon Bon Jovi, the event was capped with an award, honoring Timothy J. Leiweke, President and CEO of AEG, a leading entertainment and sports presenter.

With the JW Marriott opening on February 15 and The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles following on March 15, the hotels will comprise a major milestone in the revitalization of Downtown Los Angeles and the final elements of the $2.5 billion L.A. LIVE development.

"The JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton L.A. LIVE are flagship hotels in our portfolio and will attract travelers from around the world. They will also bring a lot of new jobs and major business groups to downtown Los Angeles. We are also very proud that they are part of the dynamic L.A. LIVE project," said Arne Sorenson, President and COO, Marriott International.

The Awards were held in The Gallery Collection, the nearly 100,000 square-foot meetings and events venue that are connected to both hotels. Featuring three ballrooms, nine ancillary meeting rooms and three boardrooms, The Gallery Collection will offer the most comprehensive meetings space in Los Angeles. Together, the hotels, The Gallery Collection and the L.A. LIVE continue the development of Downtown Los Angeles as a major destination and bring significant economic and cultural benefits to the city.

The first hotels of their caliber located within walking distance of the Los Angeles Convention Center, the JW Marriott and The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles have already secured future bookings from conventions over the next five years that will result in more than $325 million in economic impact for the city.

"It has been an unbelievable journey from ground-breaking to this moment and we are incredibly proud of the result and thrilled to finally be showcasing our hotels," said Javier Cano, General Manager, JW Marriott Los Angeles Hotel and The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles.

The 878-room JW Marriott Hotel and the 123-room The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE will offer sophisticated travelers a front seat to this world-class entertainment, sports and dining district. Just steps away from STAPLES Center, the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, The GRAMMY(®) Museum and a multitude of well-know Los Angeles dining institutions, the hotels will be located in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles.

A selection of images from "Spirit of Life" Awards are available for media use and can be obtained by visiting: http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Search.aspx?EventId=95657360&EditorialProduct=Publicity#

About JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts

JW Marriott is a world-class luxury hotel brand that appeals to the accomplished traveler seeking an authentic environment of unpretentious elegance. The JW Marriott experience is expertly edited to leave only what is truly desired and beautifully delivers lasting memories for our guests. At 43 properties worldwide, guests can experience imaginative cuisine, award-winning spas and state-of-the-art fitness centers.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) is a leading lodging company with more than 3,200 lodging properties in 67 countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Bulgari brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club, The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club and Grand Residences by Marriott brands as well as Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers. The company is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and had approximately 146,000 employees at 2008 year-end. It is recognized by BusinessWeek as one of the 100 best global brands, by FORTUNE® as one of the best companies to work for, and by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as Partner of the Year since 2004. In fiscal year 2008, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of nearly $13 billion. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com. For an interactive online version of Marriott's 2008 Annual Report, which includes a short video message from Chairman and CEO J.W. Marriott, Jr., visit www.marriott.com/investor.

About The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., of Chevy Chase, Md., currently operates 73 hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean. More than 30 hotel and residential projects are under development around the globe with future openings including Dubai International Financial Centre, United Arab Emirates; Dove Mountain, Tucson, Arizona; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Lake Tahoe, California. The Ritz-Carlton is the only service company to have twice earned the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which recognizes outstanding customer service. For more information, or reservations, contact a travel professional, call toll free in the U.S. 1-800-241-3333, or visit the company web site at www.ritzcarlton.com.

About City of Hope

City of Hope is a leading research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center, the highest honor bestowed by the National Cancer Institute, and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, City of Hope's research and treatment protocols advance care throughout the nation. City of Hope is located in Duarte, Calif., just northeast of Los Angeles, and is ranked as one of "America's Best Hospitals" in cancer and urology by U.S.News & World Report. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation and genetics. For more information, visit www.cityofhope.org.

SOURCE JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts