JW Marriott Grand Rapids was the first JW Marriott Hotel in the Midwest. It is themed based on Grand Rapids's sister cities: Omihachiman, Japan; Bielsko-Biala, Poland; Perugia, Italy; Ga District, Ghana; and Zapopan, Mexico. When the hotel was first opened, Amway Hotel Corporation hired photographer Dan Watts to travel to each of the sister cities and photograph them for the property. The JW Marriotts are the second highest ranking hotels in the Marriott district.