LaPour Plans 340-Room JW Marriott in Phoenix
Developer LaPour plans to convert a 19-story Arizona Center office tower into a luxury 340-room JW Marriott urban resort in Downtown Phoenix.
The short answer
LaPour has unveiled plans to convert a 19-story office building at Arizona Center into the 340-room JW Marriott Downtown Phoenix. The adaptive reuse development will feature 15,000 square feet of top-floor meeting space and a resort pool overlooking the center's grotto.
“I didn’t think there was a future for an office building at that site, so I wanted to change the use, and Jeff LaPour wanted to do a hotel, and he’s somebody I really respect in the marketplace”
The short version
- LaPour is converting a 19-story Arizona Center office building into a 340-room JW Marriott hotel.
- The 15,000 square feet of planned ballroom and meeting space will occupy the 18th and 19th floors.
- 351,000 hotel room nights were generated in 2025 by the neighboring Phoenix Convention Center campus.
Developer LaPour is advancing plans to convert an existing 19-story office tower at Arizona Center into the 340-room JW Marriott Downtown Phoenix, introducing an adaptive reuse luxury hotel to Arizona's urban core [1]. The proposed project incorporates 15,000 square feet of meeting space, signature food and beverage venues, and a resort-style pool overlooking the complex's 1.5-acre grotto [1].
What physical specifications make the Arizona Center tower suitable for hotel conversion?
The 19-story office tower contains building characteristics that accommodate hotel operational needs directly, notably 13-foot floor-to-floor heights and floor plates designed to yield oversized guest room layouts [1]. According to Lodging Magazine, these structural dimensions allow the developer to avoid ground-up construction while accommodating luxury hospitality standards [1].
As reported by Lodging Magazine, developer Jeff LaPour previously built the AC Hotel located next door at Arizona Center [1]. Property partner Daryl Burton stated that he saw no continued future for pure office operations at the site, which led to the partnership with LaPour to pursue a hotel conversion instead [1].
| Project Metric / Feature | Planned Specification |
|---|---|
| Total Guestrooms | 340 rooms |
| Building Height | 19 stories |
| Floor-to-Floor Ceiling Heights | 13 feet |
| Meeting and Ballroom Space | Approximately 15,000 square feet (18th and 19th floors) |
| Adjacent Outdoor Amenity | 1.5-acre Arizona Center grotto |
| Target Segment | Affordable luxury for leisure, corporate, and event planners |
What amenities will the proposed JW Marriott Downtown Phoenix include?
The proposed JW Marriott Downtown Phoenix includes 340 guestrooms alongside approximately 15,000 square feet of meeting and ballroom facilities placed on the 18th and 19th floors to provide top-floor city views [1]. The property plans feature outdoor event venues, a dedicated Club Lounge, a fitness center, and signature food and beverage operations [1].
Lodging Magazine reported that the outdoor space includes an in-ground, resort-style swimming pool situated across from the new Cleaverman restaurant by Pretty Decent Concepts [1]. The pool area overlooks the Arizona Center’s 1.5-acre grotto, positioning the property as an urban resort destination [1].
Which local demand drivers support a luxury hotel in Downtown Phoenix?
The property sits adjacent to the Phoenix Convention Center, an anchor facility that generated over 351,000 hotel room nights and roughly $454 million in direct visitor spending in 2025 [1]. Lodging Magazine noted that the downtown submarket serves major sports destinations including Major League Baseball at Chase Field and NBA basketball at Footprint Center [1].
Institutional and corporate demand generators within the direct submarket encompass the Arizona State University Downtown Phoenix campus, ASU's new medical school, the Phoenix Biomedical Campus, and more than 450 technology companies [1]. Jeff LaPour highlighted that although Phoenix is the fifth largest city in the United States, its downtown commercial district has lacked luxury hotel supply despite accelerating convention activity and population growth [1].
What is the current development status of the project?
The proposed JW Marriott Downtown Phoenix remains in its planning stages [1]. The project relies on private capital backing from the Burton Family alongside development direction from LaPour to execute the adaptive reuse transformation at Arizona Center [1].
Reported by
This article was written from the following reporting. Follow the links for the original coverage.
- [1]LaPour Plans 340-Room JW Marriott in Phoenix— Lodging Magazine
Frequently asked
+How many guestrooms will the JW Marriott Downtown Phoenix have?
The proposed JW Marriott Downtown Phoenix will feature 340 guestrooms within the converted 19-story tower at Arizona Center [[1]].
+What meeting facilities are planned for the hotel?
The development plans specify approximately 15,000 square feet of meeting and ballroom space positioned on the 18th and 19th floors with city views, alongside outdoor event spaces [[1]].
+Who is developing the JW Marriott Downtown Phoenix?
The hotel is being developed by LaPour, founded by CEO Jeff LaPour, in partnership with capital backing from the Burton Family [[1]].
+Why was the Arizona Center office building selected for hotel conversion?
The existing 19-story office tower features 13-foot floor-to-floor heights, oversized room dimensions, and floor plates that fit luxury hotel operations [[1]].
+How much economic activity does the nearby convention center generate?
The nearby Phoenix Convention Center generated more than 351,000 hotel room nights and approximately $454 million in direct visitor spending in 2025 [[1]].
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