JW Marriott Detroit Opening in 2027 at Water Square

What to know: The JW Marriott Detroit is planned for Water Square downtown with a 2027 opening, bringing the luxury flag to the riverfront district. Here is what the project includes, where it stands, and what it means for Detroit’s hotel market.

The Detroit riverfront continues to change. One of the largest projects in progress is the JW Marriott Detroit, a 25 story luxury hotel that is rising on the former Joe Louis Arena site. The location forms part of Water Square, a mixed‑use development that already features the Residences at Water Square.

This hotel will introduce something new for Detroit. It will be the first hotel in the city with a direct skybridge to Huntington Place, making it easier for convention and event guests to move between the venue and their rooms.

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What to Expect

The JW Marriott Detroit will bring several new features to the riverfront.

It will include:

• 600 rooms and suites

• A 20,000 square foot ballroom and 50,000 square feet of meeting space

• Restaurants, a lobby bar, a market, a spa, a fitness center and a pool

• A public green space between the hotel and the residences

These additions will expand the city’s hotel options and create a stronger experience for large events.

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Construction Timeline

Crews began construction in April 2024. Developers plan to complete the hotel by early 2027. They aim to open before the NCAA Men’s Final Four arrives in Detroit that March.

Because of this timeline, the hotel will play a key role in hosting visitors for one of the city’s biggest events.

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Why This Project Matters

For years, Detroit has competed with cities that already have hotels connected to their convention centers. However, event planners often choose other locations because Detroit does not offer that option.

Visit Detroit reports that the city has missed out on hundreds of thousands of hotel room nights in recent years. As a result, the JW Marriott Detroit should close that gap. The new hotel will also attract more conferences and large events to downtown.

In addition, developers estimate the property could bring more than $100 million in annual visitor spending once it opens.

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Who Is Behind the Development

The Sterling Group leads the project, with financing from Ullico, a labor investment company. The City of Detroit, Wayne County, Oakland County, Macomb County, and Visit Detroit all support the project.

Union labor is building the hotel, and the work will create more than 400 direct and indirect jobs for the region.

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Looking Ahead

With a prime location on the riverfront, the JW Marriott Detroit will change the convention experience in downtown Detroit. The hotel’s skybridge, meeting spaces, and luxury accommodations will draw more visitors and provide a modern option for large events.

As construction moves forward, Detroit is getting ready for a new chapter on its riverfront.

Sterling Group and the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority announce that the hotel at Water Square will be the “JW Marriott Detroit Water Square” (Sterling Group)

Banner Via: www.clickondetroit.com

Detroit’s hotel market keeps expanding beyond Water Square. See how the city’s other landmark stays are evolving, from the historic Westin Book Cadillac to the Shinola Hotel, holder of Detroit’s first Michelin Key, and the Godfrey Hotel in Corktown.