The JW Marriott Detroit Water Square hotel under construction just west of Huntington Place in downtown Detroit could be completed as soon as December, and will begin accepting guests in the first quarter of 2027.
The 600-room convention hotel, which will offer two large ballrooms that overlook the Detroit River, three restaurants, and other amenities, is being developed by Sterling Group in downtown Detroit. The site was formerly occupied by Joe Louis Arena.
In addition to the JW Marriott, Sterling Group developed The Residences at Water Square, and retail and public plazas on the former arena site, which spans five acres.
Scott Stinebaugh, director of sales and marketing at the JW Marriott, provided a tour of the hospitality project last week. The new hotel spans 25 stories and offers five podium levels that include multiple public spaces.
“Marriott designed the space with the river in mind,” says Stinebaugh. Pointing to a wave-like design element in the ceiling of the main lobby, he says the treatment helps “visually guide guests and visitors to the river.”
On the street level at 100 Steve Yzerman Drive (W. Atwater Street) will be an Andiamo Italian Chop House (since replaced by a 220-seat Joe Muer Seafood + Chops at Atwater Square). The restaurant will offer its own valet service and is scheduled to open in January 2027.
“(Joe Muer Seafood + Chops) will bring the signature hospitality and culinary excellence our guests expect,” says Joe Vicari, owner of Andiamo. “This prime waterfront location is the perfect setting to showcase (the) tradition of fine Italian dining in the heart of downtown Detroit.”
In June 2027, the Andiamo Detroit Riverfront restaurant at the Renaissance Center will close to make way for extensive renovations at the office and retail complex. The Joe Muer Seafood at the RenCen will close in January 2027.
The JW Marriott also will offer a lobby bar called The Assembly that will offer lighter food, along with JW Market, where convenience and gift items will be available for sale.
There’s also The Veranda, a Marriott restaurant, a full-service spa, a fitness center, a swimming pool, and nearly 50,000 square feet of meeting space.
The grand ballroom spans 17,000 square feet of space. The hotel will include a direct, pedestrian skybridge to Huntington Place Convention Center, offering access for convention and event attendees. The valet for the hotel will be along a new extension of Second Avenue from Fort Street, which is set to open this spring.
The extension of Second Avenue over the Lodge Freeway to the Riverwalk will include two lanes of traffic, and dedicated walking and bike lanes.
In addition, the recently renamed Water Square Detroit People Mover station links the district directly to the broader downtown transit network.
Visit Detroit and the Detroit Sports Commission, which worked to draw the 2027 NCAA Men’s Final Four basketball tournament to Ford Field (April 3-5), have stated the new hotel helped secure the deal. Other local organizers of the tournament include the City of Detroit, Detroit Lions, Ford Field, and Michigan State University (official host). It previously was at Ford Field in 2009.
For more information about the JW Marriott Detroit Water Square hotel, visit here.
