A 174-room Courtyard is scheduled for Basel (Switzerland) under a recently concluded franchise agreement with a subsidiary of the SV Group, owner of the Courtyard by Marriott Zurich North property.

When opened in 2010, the Marriott hotel portfolio in Switzerland will consist of four properties.

"We are delighted to be working with the SV Group on this property," said Arne Sorenson, Marriott's chief financial officer and president of European lodging. "They have been a great partner. They share our vision and commitment to service and quality."

Courtyard by Marriott is Marriott's largest brand with nearly 800 hotels worldwide. The brand appeals to a new hybrid breed of achievement-and enjoyment-focused travelers who actively balance the demands of business with their own demands for personal time.

These guests are highly engaged and use all aspects of the hotel in their pursuit of a balanced life while traveling on business or leisure.

The Courtyard by Marriott Basel will be part of a mixed-use development located about seven kilometers from Basel's city center and four kilometers from the football stadium.

The site is comprised of the hotel, a 10-floor office tower providing some 6,000 square meters of office space and about 2,500 square meters of retail space. Also included in part of the overall development is a 13,000-square meter water park and spa called "Waterworld."

The innovative and stylish bedrooms at the Courtyard by Marriott Basel will be replete with Marriott's new, highly-acclaimed, plush bedding and bath linens and will be equipped with high-speed internet access, large well-lit works desks, ergonomic chairs for comfort, flat screen televisions, in-room sages and refrigerators and coffee/tea making facilities.

For dining and entertainment, the hotel will feature an open-plan lobby with an all-day restaurant serving three meals daily and a lively lobby lounge.

For small meetings and social events, the Courtyard by Marriott Basel will have 410 square meters of space comprised of a 260-square meter ballroom offering flexible space, a 60-square meter and a 48-square meter meeting room and a state of the art equipped executive boardroom for up to 16 participants.

The Marriott International portfolio in Switzerland is currently represented by the 152-room Courtyard by Marriott Zurich North, the 260-room Zurich Marriott and the 204-room Renaissance Zurich.