Houston Marriott CityPlace Progresses, Taps General Manager

By Barbra Murray

Mark Sampsell, General Manager, Aimbridge Hospitality

As Houston Marriott CityPlace continues to sprout up at CityPlace—a mixed-use district within the $10 billion Springwoods Village master-planned community in Spring, Texas—property management company Aimbridge Hospitality has tapped a general manager for the hotel. Industry veteran Mark Sampsell will hold the reins at the new 337-key property, located in the Houston metropolitan area.

Sampsell brings to the table more than two decades of experience. He last served as general manager of the Embassy Suites Houston West – Katy in suburban Houston, and boasts a history with Aimbridge, having opened and managed other properties for the company.

Houston Marriott CityPlace

Woodbine Development is the developer behind the Gensler-designed Marriott CityPlace, which will anchor the east gateway of the 60-acre CityPlace district. As general manager of the hotel, Sampsell will supervise the completion of construction and oversee operations when the 10-story property opens its doors.

Marriott CityPlace is expected to be a welcome addition to the local market. “With ExxonMobil campus, Southwestern Energy’s headquarters, CHI St. Luke’s hospital and planned ABS headquarters and HP campus, Springwoods Village is becoming a major employment center in north Harris County, stimulating a new hotel submarket in the area,” Keith Simon, executive vice president of CDC Houston, said in a prepared statement on the Marriott CityPlace groundbreaking in April 2017.  CDC Houston, Patrinely Group and USAA Real Estate Co. comprise the master development venture behind CityPlace.

Austin Commercial is working on Marriott CityPlace as general contractor. The hotel is on track to open its doors to guests in the fall of 2018.

CityPlace keeps pace

Progress continues at CityPlace. In addition to the Marriott property, CityPlace will feature 400,000 square feet of office space and 400,000 square feet of retail offerings.

Activity at CityPlace this year includes Star Cinema Grill’s new lease commitment for a 1,400-seat dine-in theatre at the mixed-use destination. Additionally, the CDC Houston joint venture kicked off construction of the 149,600-square-foot CityPlace 1, the first multi-tenant office tower to be built at CityPlace.

Images courtesy of Aimbridge Hospitality