MeriStar says the 21-year-old hotel, which is adjacent to theSan Diego Freeway at 18000 Von Karman Ave., will be operated byMarriott International under a long-term contract. The property issurrounded by a dense concentration of high-rise office space andis a half-mile from John Wayne Airport. The hotel features morethan 30,000 sf of meeting and banquet space in addition to itsrooms, restaurants, shops and other facilities. The hotel's meetingspace, food and beverage outlets, lobby and public spaces underwenta multi-million dollar renovation within the past 18 months, andMeriStar expects to invest approximately $7 million in additionalproperty improvements over the next 12 months, primarily in thehotel's guest rooms.Paul W. Whetsell, chairman and CEO of MeriStar,describes the acquisition as part of the REIT's plans to buy largerproperties with significant meeting space and strong brandaffiliations in major urban markets or high-end resorts.