An astonishing 968 room Marriott branded hotel will be part of the monumental, Macao Studio City with entertainment, retail, gaming - and studios complex taking shape in Macao, China.

This hotel will open under a management agreement reached with East Asia-Televisao Por Satellite Limitada as reported by Marriott International, Inc.  today.

Scheduled to open in 2009, the Macao Studio City Marriott Hotel will be situated in a 30-story tower block as part of the 4-million-square-foot, mixed-use development known as Macao Studio City. The complex is located on a 33-acre site along the "Cotai Strip," the main thoroughfare of Cotai, Macao, with a direct link to the new Lotus Bridge immigration checkpoint. Close by is the Orient Golf Course.

In addition to the Macao Studio City Marriott Hotel, phase one of the complex will include three more components; a 2,300-seat theater; a 200,000-square-foot casino, a 55,000-square-foot exhibition center; 1 million square feet of retail space; and a stand-alone, state-of-the-art television and film production facility.

"We are thrilled to be part of this exciting development which is bringing Las Vegas-style entertainment and tourism to Macao," said Ed Fuller, president & managing director, international lodging for Marriott International. "The range and scope of facilities the Macao Studio City complex will offer, coupled with our stellar reputation in the global MICE market, give the Macao Studio City Marriott Hotel enormous potential for success. We have no doubt that Macao will be the next hot destination for incentive and leisure travelers."

David Friedman, co-chairman and co-chief executive officer of Macao Studio City, said, "Macao Studio City is delighted to welcome one of the world's most celebrated hotel brands to our complex. The Marriott brand is a deluxe, upscale performance-oriented brand that focuses on enabling the success of its guests."

Ambrose Cheung, co-chief executive officer of Macao Studio City, said, "The Marriott hotel will be a key member of Macao Studio City. It complements our vision of having only world-class operators to provide truly unique and memorable experiences for visitors in Macao."

Accommodations at the Macao Studio CityMarriott Hotel will feature over-sized guestrooms offering bathrooms with separate shower and tub; state-of-the-art, in-room technology; and Marriott's signature bed and bath linens.

Among other amenities, the hotel will have a private executive level lounge; access to a destination spa; a resort-style swimming pool; a 300-square meter health and fitness center; a kids' club and game room. Additionally, the Macao Studio City Marriott Hotel will offer the services of a business center, retail shopping and shuttle service to the Macao ferry terminal and airport.

For dining and entertainment, the hotel will have an all-day casual restaurant, a specialty restaurant, a lobby lounge and bar and a pool bar.

The Macao Studio City Marriott Hotel will have 3,750-square meters of conference space for meetings and social events. Included will be a 2,200-square meter grand ballroom that will be divisible into 10 sections; a 600-square meter junior ballroom that will be divisible into five sections; six additional meeting rooms each capable of being divided into two or three sections; and two 75-square meter boardrooms.

Currently, there are no Marriott International-branded hotels in Macao.