ALLEN, Texas, April 12, 2017 — A new four-star, full service Delta by Marriott Hotel and attached convention center will open in Allen in late 2018. Altera development recently closed on the property, located on the northwest corner of U.S. 75 and Bethany Drive. Construction on the $91 million facility will begin later this month.

The project will feature 300 guest rooms, 90,000 square feet of flexible convention, ballroom, and meeting space and 1,000 parking spaces, making it one of the largest facilities of its kind in North Texas. Located steps away from mixed-use center Watters Creek at Montgomery Farm, visitors will enjoy easy access to a variety of high-end shopping and dining options.

Delta by Marriott is Marriott's newest upscale, full service hotel brand. The 300 premium guest rooms will feature a fresh, streamlined design. An upscale restaurant and a destination bar, located adjacent to an outdoor courtyard with swimming pool, are designed to allow guests to meet, entertain, and unwind. The Delta focus on upscale essentials includes a 24 Hour Elite Pantry, a fitness center with cardio, weights, yoga and crossfit, free WiFi, and bottled water available on every floor.

"This convention center is truly a unique asset for north Texas," said Allen Mayor Stephen Terrell. "The sheer size of the convention space opens the door for significant conferences and propels Allen to a whole new level as a destination city for business and tourism." The City of Allen, Allen Economic Development Corporation and Allen Community Development Corporation are jointly investing in the project.

"With new corporate facilities being built by companies like WatchGuard Video and KONE, Allen has become a Class A office market," said Dan Bowman, Executive Director of the Allen Economic Development Corporation. "The delivery of these high-end meeting facilities and amenities is already attracting more of these corporate tenants, and drove the recent groundbreaking of a five-story, 125,000-square-foot office building and parking garage on a neighboring parcel. The hotel and convention center are being developed largely in response to Allen's explosive corporate growth."

"The Allen EDC under Dan Bowman's leadership provides tremendous resourcefulness and creativity that make projects like ours a reality," said Mike Kennedy, Principal at Altera Development. "The City of Allen Leadership's highly successful program of value creation was something that our bankers, Bill Schonacher and William Woodring at IBC, immediately recognized."

Benchmark Hospitality has been chosen to operate and market the facility. "We are extremely proud to be managing and marketing what will be an ultra-modern Delta Hotel," said Alex Cabañas, CEO of Benchmark. "This is an exciting, contemporary new brand in the midst of rapid expansion."

"The new convention center and hotel will provide the City of Allen with the capability to host larger meetings, sporting events, trade shows and conferences, generating revenue and tax dollars that benefit our community," said Karen Cromwell, Director of the Allen Convention & Visitors Bureau. The Allen Convention & Visitors Bureau, which brings a wide range of events, organizations and visitors to Allen, will relocate to the facility.

Located just north of Dallas off U.S. Highway 75, Allen combines the big city amenities with small-town hospitality. Meeting planners will find sophisticated conference services and spectacular climate that allows for year-round recreational opportunities, including the exceptional Golf Courses at Watters Creek. Entertainment venues, outlet shopping and great dining draw both business and leisure travelers. Allen is located within 30 miles of Dallas Fort Worth International and Dallas Love Field, with McKinney National Airport eight miles to the North.