Seasoned Hotel Professional Joins Team of Gwinnett County’s First Four-star Full-service Hotel

Duluth, GA (JULY 18, 2023) – The Westin Atlanta Gwinnett, a four-star full-service hotel slated to open in spring 2024, today announced Russell Stewart as director of sales and marketing. Stewart has been a fixture of the Georgia hospitality scene for several decades and a decorated leader as part of the portfolio of brands in the Marriott International Hotels system.

In his new role, Stewart will lead The Westin Atlanta Gwinnett hotel’s sales team and develop and implement strategies to grow the hotel’s customer base, which will include premier group customers,  high-end corporate business and luxury travelers expected to visit the new property. The hotel’s event space will accommodate groups of up to 800 attendees.

Featuring an expansive selection of 14 event rooms spanning over 27,000 square feet, The Westin Atlanta Gwinnett Hotel will be a premier destination for both social and corporate events. The property will offer catering and event planning teams with expertise and tailored menus to suit every occasion. Guests and visitors will benefit from the convenience of two hospitality suites, complete with outdoor terraces. These include a luxurious presidential suite with a private terrace, four executive suites and six standard suites.

“Russell is the best in the business and knows the profile of guests we want to attract for an environment where they can relax, re-charge, nourish the senses and celebrate,” said Mark Castriota, general manager of the property. “Russell is already fielding requests to host a variety of experiences ranging from wedding receptions to corporate retreats at The Westin Atlanta Gwinnett hotel, and his expansive network and track record in Georgia is already giving organizations the confidence to make our new Westin the home for their next high-profile events.”

Prior to this new post, Stewart was responsible for energizing high-performance sales and marketing teams at 13 select brand hotels in the Marriott system across Georgia. He was honored as Marriott’s 2019 Sales Leader of the Year. Previously, he served other major destinations in cities ranging from Nashville to New Orleans.

The Westin Atlanta Gwinnett hotel, conveniently located on the campus of the premier Gas South District and is owned by Concord Hospitality, an award-winning hotel management and development company that consistently ranks as one of the top hoteliers in North America and is a preferred partner of Marriott International Hotels.

In addition to its vast event spaces, the new hotel will offer numerous amenities designed to enhance guests’ stay with signature wellness programs and restorative sleep amenities and floor-to-ceiling windows to make travel an inspiring experience.

Among the planned amenities is a bustling rooftop space featuring the Overstory bar and two outdoor fire pits. Guests and visitors will be able to access this exciting space with 360 views of the region for fun and networking, beverages and small-plate food offerings.

The Westin Atlanta Gwinnett hotel will also feature a full-service ground-level restaurant called SweetSong Kitchen & Bar, focused on healthy, locally sourced and sustainable ingredients. Additionally, the property includes a Starbucks®, an indoor pool and the signature Westin WORKOUT® Fitness Studios. 

Guest rooms and suites offer wellness-enhancing amenities including Westin Heavenly® Beds, high-speed Wi-Fi, 55" Smart TVs, desks with ergonomic chairs and mini-fridges.

Located in Georgia's premier Gas South District, guests can enjoy all of the events at Gas South Arena, take in a show at Gas South Theater or walk to an event at the Gas South Convention Center. Guests and visitors will also have convenient access to Greater Atlanta attractions such as the World of Coca-Cola, Georgia Aquarium and much more just 25 minutes away.

About Concord Hospitality

Concord Hospitality is an award-winning hotel development and management company that has grown over the past three decades to become the preferred partner of leading hotel brands such as Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt. Concord Hospitality boasts a stellar reputation known for combining the experience of a big company with the high-touch service of an independent operation to every partner property. The company specializes in developing and managing full-service and select-service hotels across North America. As part of the company’s continued growth, it recently launched Opus Collection by Concord, a lifestyle hotel management division for full-service properties. With the brightest talent, the most innovative processes, and a commitment to giving back to the communities where associates live and work, Concord Hospitality is committed to being a great place to work for all. Learn more at concordhotels.com.

About Westin Hotels and Resorts

Westin Hotels & Resorts, hospitality’s global leader in well-being for more than a decade, empowers guests to transcend the rigors of travel while on the road through the brand’s Six Pillars of well-being: Sleep Well, Eat Well, Move Well, Feel Well, Work Well, and Play Well. At more than 230 hotels and resorts in 40 countries and territories, guests can experience wellness offerings that include the brand’s iconic and award-winning Heavenly ® Bed, TRX fitness equipment in the signature Westin WORKOUT® Fitness Studios, delicious and nutritious menu offerings on their Eat Well menu, and more.

About Gas South District

Just minutes outside of Atlanta, Gas South District 118-acre campus can accommodate a variety of events from concerts, performances, meetings, trade shows, conventions, banquets, and celebrations. The multipurpose campus includes an amazing 13,000-seat arena (Gas South Arena), an intimate 708-seat theater (Gas South Theater), 24 versatile meeting rooms, a 90,000-square-foot exhibit hall, and a 21,600-square-foot ballroom (Gas South Convention Center). The campus, operated by the Gwinnett Convention and Visitors Bureau, distinguishes itself by hosting a diverse range of events, including the ECHL’s Atlanta Gladiators, NLL’s Georgia Swarm, Carrie Underwood, Justin Timberlake, JapanFest, Georgia Bridal Show, Gwinnett Ballet Theater, Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra, George Strait, Eric Clapton, NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships, Disney On Ice, Enrique Iglesias & Pitbull, Orange Conference, Beyoncé and more.