MARRIOTT TO EXPAND SPA PORTFOLIO

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES PLANS TO EXPAND ITS SPA PORTFOLIO, ELIMINATE SPA MYSTIQUE AND UNCERTAINTY

NEW YORK - July 18,2001 - Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) announced plans today to significantly expand its portfolio of world-class spas and to create new standards that help eliminate the perceived barriers, mystique and uncertainty that preclude many consumers from experiencing the benefits and sheer joy of visiting a spa.

Marriott International, which currently has 21 world-class spas in nine countries, will double its offering of spas over the next three years.

'We have a great opportunity to create a new model for the global spa experience,' said Laura Bates, vice president of leisure travel for Marriott. 'Consumers trust Marriott to deliver on our promise. At the same time, they share a sense of entitlement and expectation that transcends income and culture, yet the spa experience has tended to be viewed by many as an elitist or a frivolous indulgence. Our goal is to remove the perceived barriers to the spa experience and, concurrently, help build a bigger base of consumers for spas worldwide.'

'We have been operating spas for almost 20 years, beginning in the mid-1980s with our first spa at the Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa in California. Over that time, we have learned a lot about what our spa guests like and expect. Now, we are coupling these learnings with our in-depth knowledge of customer preferences and our reputation for providing consistent, caring and nurturing service to create the Marriott spa experience,' Ms. Bates said.

She said that the company is creating guidelines for all its current and future spas that will ensure guests at its Marriott and Renaissance hotel spas will consistently have a phenomenal spa experience whether they are in Scottsdale or Seoul.

'We have appointed a virtual team of recognized spa consultants to assist our hotels in developing new spas and renovating existing spa facilities. We want to ensure that our spa product provides the newest treatments and best thinking in spas while reflecting the best of local traditions and ingredients. These consultants will work with our general managers and hotel owners in such areas as overall facility design, marketing, and creating spa menus within the context of our respective hotel brand service standards,' she said.

These guidelines are just the first step. 'In coming months, we will develop additional elements that build on our spa identity ,' she said. Currently, Marriott and Renaissance hotel spas are located in the United States, Aruba, Australia, Brazil, Ecuador, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and the United Kingdom. Additional spas are under construction in Brazil, Egypt, Ireland, Jordan, Mexico, Qatar, Puerto Rico, Spain, St. Kitts, United Kingdom and the United States.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL'S GLOBAL SPA OFFERINGS

Marriott International offers more than 20 spas in nine countries:
Aruba
Australia
Brazil
Ecuador
Korea
Malaysia
Thailand
United Kingdom
USA

Current Marriott and Renaissance Spas

North American Region:
Camelback Inn Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa, Scottsdale, Arizona
Desert Springs Marriott Resort & Spa, Palm Desert, California
Harbor Beach Marriott Resort, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Lodge at Sonoma: A Renaissance Hotel & Spa, Sonoma, California
Marriott Orlando World Center Marriott Resort, Orlando, Florida
Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa, Groton, Connecticut
Rancho Las Palmas Marriott Resort & Spa, Rancho Mirage, California
Seaview Marriott Resort, Absecon, New Jersey
Vail Marriott Mountain Resort, Vail, Colorado

Latin American Region:
JW Marriott Hotel Quito, Ecuador
Renaissance Sao Paulo Hotel, Brazil

Asia Pacific Region:
Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa, Thailand
Brisbane Marriott Hotel, Australia
Marriott Hotel & Aruba Ocean Club
Renaissance Wailea Beach Resort, Hawaii
JW MarriottHotel Bangkok, Thailand
JW Marriott Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
JW Marriott Hotel Seoul, Korea
JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at Ko Olina, Hawaii
Surfers' Paradise Marriott Resort, Australia

European Region:
London Marriott County Hall Hotel, United Kingdom

Future Marriott and Renaissance Spas

North American Region:
Coronado Island Marriott Resort, San Diego, California (opening 2002)
Desert Ridge Marriott Resort & Spa, Phoenix, Arizona (opening 2002)
Grand Hotel Marriott Resort & Golf Club, Point Clear, Alabama (opening 2002)
Niagara Falls Marriott Fallsview, Niagara City, Ontario, Canada (opening Fa112002)
Renaissance Esmeralda Resort, Indian Wells, California ( opening 2002)
JW Marriott Hotel Grande Lakes, Orlando, Florida (opening 2003)

Latin American and Caribbean Region:
JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa, Mexico (opening Fal12001)
Costa do Sauipe Marriott Resort & Spa, Brazil (opening 2002)
St. Kilts Marriott Resort (opening 2003)
JW Marriott Resort Dos Mares, Puerto Rico (opening 2004)Asia Pacific Region:
JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa, Thailand (opening early 2002)

European Region:
Mallorca Marriott Resort & Spa, Spain (opening late 2001)
Renaissance London Chancery Court Hotel, United Kingdom (opening late 200 1 )
Druids Glen Marriott Resort, Ireland (opening 2002)


Middle Eastern Region:
Jordan Valley Marriott Resort & Spa, Jordan (opening late 2001)
Doha Marriott Gulf Hotel, Qatar (opening 2002)
JW Marriott Mirage City Hotel Cairo, Egypt (opening late 2002)

For more information or reservations at a Marriott property, contact a travel agent, call toll-free in the United States/Canada at 800-228-9290 or the Marriott toll-free number in other countries, the nearest Worldwide Sales Office, a Marriott-appointed general sales representative or visit Marriott International's web site at www.marriott.com.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE: MAR) is a leading worldwide hospitality company with nearly 2,400 operating units in the United States and 59 other countries and territories. Marriott Lodging operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Ramada International brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott, Ritz-Carlton and Horizons brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its ExecuStay by Marriott division; and operates conference centers. Other Marriott businesses include senior living communities and services, wholesale food distribution and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has approximately 154,000 employees. In fiscal year 2000, Marriott International reported systemwide sales of $19.8 billion. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at www.marriott.com .



CONTACT:

Mari Snyder/Laurie Goldstein
Marriott International, Inc.
(301) 380-2037/5296
mari [email protected]
[email protected]

Armistead Lemon/Susan Peters
BSMG Worldwide
(212) 445-8138/8156
[email protected]