The $24.3 million Marriott University Park Hotel opened its doors yesterday after three years of planning.

John Malloy, president of the Marshall Foundation, told a crowd of 200 at the hotel's ribbon-cutting ceremony that the idea for the hotel's placement was born from an agreement between he and Joel Valdez, University of Arizona senior vice-president for business affairs.

The Foundation owns the land where the hotel is located, at 880 E. Second St.

He said Valdez told him he would place a university administration building on the Marshall Foundation property if Malloy would seek a "first-class hotel." Valdez did not attend the opening event.

Sara Woodruff, director of sales for Marriott University Park, said she expects the 250-room hotel to be 80 percent full on average throughout the year.

Forty of the hotel's rooms were reserved for its first night, Woodruff said. She said the hotel also will host an auction this week.

The hotel is offering an introductory rate of $89 through Jan. 13, excluding graduation and the Copper Bowl, Woodruff said. She said the standard in-season rate will between $139 and $180, while off-season rates will range between $79 and $99.

Overnight hotel guests will pay a parking fee between $5 and $7 to park in the Main Gate Garage, Woodruff said.

The hotel offers fiber optic connections for computers on the building's first floor, and two telephone lines per room for guests who use computers.

There are 187 people employed at the hotel and there are plans to add 33 more jobs, Woodruff said. She said one-third of the employees are from other Tucson hotels, one-third have no hotel experience and another third are UA students.

Ross Silberfarb, undeclared sophomore and a valet at the hotel, said he began training two and a half weeks ago. He said training lasted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., though he managed to make classes in between sessions.

"I'm ready to start parking some cars and making some tips," Silberfarb said.

He said there have been rough spots leading up to the hotel's opening, including a river in the atrium that does not hold water.

Woodruff said the river was one of several problems right before opening, including rooms without beds and a lack of name tags for employees.

The Arizona Daily Wildcat also reported last week that the Marshall Foundation was considering legal action against the hotel over the kind of glass used in the windows. The double-paned glass the Foundation wanted has been installed, but Malloy said yesterday, "We're still arguing over a few things."

The Foundation has shown only support for the hotel's operations, Woodruff said. The hotel's construction management was not at the event yesterday.

University Boulevard merchants were also supportive of the hotel's opening.

Phil Giddings, manager of Geronimoz' Restaurant and Bar, 800 E. University Blvd., said the hotel should increase local business. He said the restaurant may also introduce new menu items for the hotel's more "upscale" crowd.

"We're just trying to keep things consistent and compete with the rest of the people around here for the guests," Giddings said.

Kim Grant, an employee of Cafe Paraiso, 800 E. University Blvd., said the hotel is in a "prime location" to increase business in the area.

"It will definitely have an influence on the crowd," Grant said. She said she expects the number of customers to be dictated by the season.

Marriott anticipates competing for winter travelers and has been approached by local golf courses to create a relationship, Woodruff said.

Woodruff said she expects Parent's Weekend and Homecoming to be among the hotel's busiest periods.

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