Marc L. Messina Joins Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel as GM
DENVER - May 8, 2013 - The Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel today announced that Marc L. Messina has been appointed as its new general manager. Messina brings over 20 years of hospitality experience to the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, which is Denver and Colorado's largest hotel with 1,231 guest rooms, including 82 suites. The property, which is situated on the popular pedestrian 16th Street mall and close proximity to the Colorado Convention Center, is owned by Charter Properties and managed by Starwood Hotels and Resorts.
Previously, Messina spent the majority of his career at the 1,600-room Anatole hotel in Dallas. From 1994 to 2011, he held various positions at The Anatole starting as director of Food & Beverage, as well as serving as director of Operations, before being promoted to general manager in 1994 of the 47-acre property. During his 17 years at The Anatole, Messina was the recipient of many awards, including General Manager of the Year in 2003 awarded by the Hotel Association of Greater Dallas. Under his leadership, the hotel also won Hotel of the Year in 2005 from the Hotel Association of Greater Dallas, Convention South's Annual Readers Choice Award in 2009, and excellence awards from various meeting and convention groups for several consecutive years. In 2010, Messina oversaw the hotel's first-time receipt of the AAA Four Diamond rating and was the driving force behind its most recent $160 million transformation.
Most recently, Messina was general manager of an ultramodern and urban-chic loft-style boutique hotel located in the prominent Las Colinas neighborhood of Irving, Tex., near Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
No stranger to Sheraton, Messina also worked with ITT Sheraton, serving in property and corporate F&B roles in Boston, Toronto, and Washington D.C.
During his time in Dallas, Messina had served as the Chairman of the Board for the Hotel Association of Greater Dallas, and held board positions inclusive of Executive Committee of the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau. Messina earned a degree in marketing and a minor in accounting and behavioral science from Boston College School of Management, from which he graduated Magna cum Laude.
Messina, whose passions are family centered also include photography and cooking, is moving to Denver with his wife, Christie, and their sons Marc and Jon, honor students who will graduate high school in 2013 and 2014 respectively.
“The city of Denver has great potential and it is a tremendous opportunity to work with one of Denver and Colorado's premier hotels. I am delighted to reconnect and begin a new chapter of my journey with Sheraton and Starwood, as well as a new life chapter for me and my family in Denver and Colorado,” said Messina. “I am appreciative of the experience and relationships I have had in Dallas, and look forward to working with the Denver community and the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel team in pursuit of excellence on behalf of our mutually valued customers,” he added.
About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1,134 properties in nearly 100 countries and 171,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Meridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, and ElementSM. The Company boasts one of the industry's leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
