[KevinFromTexas]

The Austin American-Statesman had said the hotel would range from 27 to 30 floors. This press release by White Lodging says it will be 26 floors.

I'll email them soon to see if I can get the official height. It should be in the area of 300 feet. Construction is expected to begin June 1, 2012.

This article also mentions the 17-story Hyatt Place hotel that White Lodging is planning one block away. The article mentions that it will break ground next month.

http://www.whitelodging.com/news/070111-2.asp

AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL APPROVES $4.3 MILLION FEE WAIVER PACKAGE TOWARDS THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MARRIOTT MARQUIS CONVENTION HOTEL

Merrillville, IN (July 1, 2011) - White Lodging Services Corporation announced today after Austin city council approval of a $4.3 million fee waiver package that it will build a 1,003-room, 26-story Marriott Marquis in downtown Austin. With the project equity commitment already secured through internal sources and with the support of the city, the largest hotel in Austin will be developed and managed by White Lodging and owned by White Lodging affiliates. Construction is set to begin June 1, 2012 and the Marriott Marquis is scheduled to open in January 2015.

Located in the heart of downtown on Congress Avenue between 2nd and 3rd Streets, the Marriot Marquis is two blocks from the Austin Convention Center and poised to take the City of Austin to a new level in the national convention and meeting market. Plans for the hotel include 104,000 square feet of flexible meeting, banquet and exhibition space, multiple food and beverage venues, 374 underground parking spaces, and a 4,500 square foot fitness center.

"We believe this project will make a very positive statement for the City in the eyes of national meeting planners and, in turn, will induce more incremental group business to downtown Austin," said Deno Yiankes, White Lodging's President and CEO of Investments & Development. "In today's environment, a project of this scale will not get completed without the required cash equity in place and thankfully, our owners have committed the internal funds to get this project built."