Watermark Story The founder of Watermark Hotel & Spa is Patrick J. Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy has broad experience in the development and operation of hotels. He was managing partner of the company that developed La Mansion, which opened in the spring of 1968 in the center of downtown San Antonio, Texas overlooking the city’s famous Paseo del Rio, the River Walk. Before the conception of the Watermark Hotel & Spa in December 2003, La Mansion had the distinction of being considered the premier hotel in the San Antonio market, and until the high performance of the Watermark, it was the RevPar market leader enjoying an unrivaled position in San Antonio. Since its inception, La Mansion was independently owned and operated by Mr. Kennedy until its sale in March 2006. In 2001, in response to the opportunities for continued growth in San Antonio, La Mansion’s ownership decided to expand its operation by developing a new hotel, the Watermark Hotel & Spa, that would raise the level of luxury hotel accommodations and services and be positioned as one of the premier hotels in the United States. The Watermark Hotel & Spa in San Antonio was completed and opened to the public on December 31, 2003. The Watermark is San Antonio’s finest luxury hotel, and one of the most remarkable small hotels in the country. It is located on the site of the former historic L. Frank Saddlery, a four story, 70,000 square foot building that housed the largest saddlery west of the Mississippi, and by 1918 was one of the largest saddleries in the country. The Watermark, a seven story structure with modern construction throughout, has replicated the detailing of the building’s historic Renaissance Revival façade. It has 99 large guest rooms and suites- all with high ceilings and large marble bathrooms with Jacuzzi tubs, a 190-seat restaurant, 4,478 square feet of meeting space, and a 16,592 square foot spa. The hotel’s architectural quality and the façade’s importance as an outstanding example of the 1890s and early 1900s Renaissance Revival period add distinction to the Watermark’s market positioning. The Watermark’s lobby entrance opens onto the 200 block of Crockett Street, which is the only place along the San Antonio River where a street runs parallel and adjacent to the river. Approximately 4,270 square feet under the street was excavated and incorporated into the project for restaurant and retail use, allowing the Watermark’s lower level to open directly onto the River Walk, with approximately 95 feet of prime frontage and a terraced area for outdoor dining overlooking the river. A separate entrance onto the River Walk provides easy access for hotel guests. The Watermark Spa provides an important marketing advantage for the Hotel. Care was given to the programming and design of the facility and its anticipated range of services to meet the needs of the upper level business and leisure traveler, as well as the local San Antonio market. The spa has been designed and is operated to express an environment of beauty and serenity where guests can relax and receive their choice of artful and professional therapeutic massage and hydrotherapy treatments or participate in other health enhancing activities. The Watermark Spa serves a full range of fitness and health needs and is available for guests who desire a specially designed facility and program of services focused on maintaining personal health and achieving an optimal and balanced lifestyle.