Marriott Hotel

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Pat Maher, senior v.p. of engineering for Washington-based Marriott International, said the company's commitment is nothing new.
Marriott became an Energy Star partner in 2001.
"We were benchmarking hotels and had a pretty good base of about 2,100 hotels," Maher said. "Every month we tracked energy consumption in electric, gas, water and sewer. Energy Star developed a database around those parameters."
He emphasized the importance of tracking consumption.
"You have to know where you are, what you can afford," Maher said. "You need to understand what's going on."

Maher, Marriott
Because Marriott was recognized as a partner of the year in 2005, there had to be continued success in order to receive the award again.

Brodsky, Energy Star
"No other approach to green building operations has such clear and proven benefit to guests, investors or the sustained value of capital assets," said Stuart Brodsky, national program manager, commercial property markets, Energy Star.

"Some of the information [Marriott] shared we look forward to integrating into every sector we work with," Brodsky said.
The company's retrocommissioning program, which began in 2005, sought to evaluate and establish a planning process to aid Marriott properties in becoming as energy efficient as possible, Maher said. "We took hotels that are 15 years or older and we gave them a tune-up. We put a team of engineers in to evaluate the hotel, look at energy and demand costs and identify control and maintenance problems."
The team looked at central plan equipment and developed plans to get the equipment to perform at peak efficiency.
In some cases, improvements in energy efficiency made buying new equipment more practical, Maher said.
A six-month relamping campaign was launched last year. In addition, Marriott completed a three-year program to replace 5,400 exterior neon/fluorescent signs with LED lighting.
According to Maher, the company uses ozone laundry systems when possible, but a new product from Ecolab, called Formula 1, that has a new chemistry, helped reduce the cycle times and amount of hot water needed.
"We used to run a 42- to 48-minute cycle," according to Maher. "We've got it down to 30 minutes."

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Marriott implements language program

WASHINGTON - Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) announced today that it has launched a 23-hotel pilot language program in the United States. The pilot program will utilize the Sed de Saber (Thirst for Knowledge) Spanish/English Language system, which teaches workplace and life-skills English.
"Marriott is excited about this unique program," said David Rodriguez, executive vice president of human resources, Marriott International. "We believe that the Sed de Saber program will be of tremendous benefit to both our associates and managers, helping them improve their ability to communicate with one another and with guests."

Sed de Saber, an electronic learning system developed by Retention Education, LLC, is interactive and uses storytelling, voice recording, games and review exercises to build and improve English language skills. Sed de Saber combines English as a second language curriculum with the Leapfrog Quantum Pad Plus Microphone?, which allows the learner to record, playback, and compare his/her voice to the word or phrase being learned, increasing confidence in pronunciation skills.

To complement the Sed de Saber program, Marriott has established small learning communities in which associates and managers can learn together. This approach helps associates improve their communication skills, while giving managers an opportunity to create enhanced work environments. Marriott Implements Language Program for Associates.

"My idea always was to advance, but there are challenges when you speak a different language," said Yoseline Martinez, housekeeping inspector, Residence Inn, Pentagon City in Virginia. "I've tried Sed de Saber. I can use it in my home to learn together with my family."

"English is the second language for about 60 percent of our associates at the Residence Inn, Pentagon City," said Raymond Bennett, general manager of the hotel. "Sed de Saber will allow our associates to enhance their English language skills, giving them an opportunity to interact more comfortably and confidently with our guests. The learning community concept also enables managers to become more familiar with key phrases in Spanish which also promotes good communication with associates."

Implementing the Sed de Saber language program complements Marriott's Spirit to Serve Our Guests initiative, a guest service program that ensures that each customer is given first-class, personalized service at every level of contact with Marriott: from the first telephone call to the actual check-in. Marriott plans to expand the program into other hotels across all markets in the United States.

__________________________________________________ _______________MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL is a leading lodging company with nearly 2,800 lodging properties in the United States and 66 other countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Bulgari brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club International, Horizons, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Grand Residences by Marriott brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has approximately 143,000 employees at 2005 year-end. In fiscal year 2005, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $11.6 billion.

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Marriott reports robust second quarter

Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) reported second quarter 2006 net income of $186 million, an increase of 35 percent, and diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.43, an increase of 48 percent.
Adjusted net income was $182 million, an increase of 17 percent, and adjusted diluted earnings per share was $0.42, an increase of 27 percent. The 2006 adjusted results exclude the impact of the company's synthetic fuel business. The 2005 adjusted results exclude the impact of the company's synthetic fuel business and a $94 million pre-tax charge ($0.13 per share after-tax) due to the non-cash write-off of management agreements in connection with the CTF transaction. The company's EPS guidance for the 2006 second quarter, disclosed on April 20, 2006, totaled $0.38 to $0.40 and similarly excluded the company's synthetic fuel business. All per share amounts are adjusted for the company's two-for-one stock split completed on June 9, 2006.

J.W. Marriott, Jr., Marriott International's chairman and chief executive officer, said, "Across our portfolio, and throughout our global system, business is exceptionally strong. Our hotels continue to thrive around the world, including such markets as New York, Boston, Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, Orlando, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Santiago. Business transient and group demand in Western Europe was very strong in advance of this summer's World Cup competition.

"REVPAR and margin improvements, particularly at large downtown and convention hotels in North America, dramatically increased incentive fees during the quarter. Incentive fees at U.S. managed hotels increased 61 percent. Higher effective room rates resulted from both price increases and improving customer mix. Property-level house profit margins improved due to higher room rates, continued focus on efficiency improvements and higher catering, spa and other property level revenue.

"As important as our financial measures, customer satisfaction scores also rose during the quarter reflecting substantial renovation activity in recent years as well as the rollout of new bedding and technology-enabled service initiatives. Marriott's service initiatives focus on greater guest personalization, pre-arrival emails to help travelers with trip planning, and a virtual concierge that lets guests book spa appointments or golf tee times online anytime. We recently announced the rollout of new online airline check-in and boarding pass stations in Marriott Hotels & Resorts and Renaissance Hotels & Resorts lobbies. We continue to test new technology that further enhances guest experiences.

"Looking ahead, we expect operations to remain strong, with North American comparable company-operated REVPAR increasing 9 to 11 percent in 2006 and property-level house profit margins improving 225 to 275 basis points. We expect to open 25,000 new rooms this year, and our pipeline of hotel rooms under development has expanded to 80,000."

In the 2006 second quarter (12 week period from March 25, 2006 to June 16, 2006), REVPAR for the company's comparable worldwide systemwide properties increased 10.4 percent (10.7 percent using constant dollars). Systemwide comparable North American REVPAR increased 10.7 percent in the quarter, with average daily rates up 8.9 percent and occupancy up 1.2 percentage points, to 76.5 percent. REVPAR at the company's comparable systemwide North American full-service hotels (including Marriott Hotels & Resorts, The Ritz-Carlton, and Renaissance Hotels & Resorts) increased by 10.5 percent during the quarter. North American systemwide REVPAR for the company's comparable select- service and extended-stay brands (including Courtyard, Fairfield Inn, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, and SpringHill Suites) increased 11.0 percent. For the calendar quarter ended June 30, 2006, REVPAR for systemwide comparable North American properties increased 10.0 percent.

In the 2006 second quarter, international company-operated comparable REVPAR increased 9.6 percent (11.1 percent using constant dollars) including a 7.1 percent increase in average daily rates and a 1.7 percentage point improvement in occupancy to 75.5 percent. With strong demand from European and South American travelers, REVPAR in the Caribbean and Latin America increased nearly 18 percent (16 percent using constant dollars).

The company continued to experience strong demand in Asia and the United Kingdom while demand in Continental Europe improved in the second quarter, especially in the weeks leading up to the World Cup competition. REVPAR improved 3.1 percent (10.2 percent using constant dollars) in Germany and 4.0 percent (10.8 percent using constant dollars) in France.

Marriott added 33 new properties (4,853 rooms) to its worldwide lodging portfolio in the second quarter, including the elegant 338 room JW Marriott Hotel San Francisco. The company also opened a 227 room Marriott in Leicester, United Kingdom and five Courtyard hotels in Europe. Eleven properties (2,170 rooms) exited the system, including seven first generation Fairfield Inn properties (942 rooms). The Renaissance Hotel in Kapalua, Hawaii, was closed in the second quarter, pending conversion to a Ritz-Carlton Club resort. At quarter-end, the company's lodging group encompassed 2,789 hotels and timeshare resorts for a total of 507,130 rooms.

Interest in all of the company's brands continues to strengthen. Owners and franchisees are excited about what Marriott has done to refresh and reposition its brands. Marriott's worldwide pipeline of hotels under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development increased to 80,000 rooms, up from 60,000 rooms in the year ago quarter and 75,000 rooms at the end of the 2006 first quarter. New in the pipeline are two exciting hotels under development, part of a venture designed to reinvigorate downtown Los Angeles. "L.A. Live," is a mixed-use development project that will include two hotels, luxury residences, a 7,000-seat live performance venue, a movie theatre, fine dining and much more. Marriott's role in the project includes an 877 room Marriott Hotel, a 123 room Ritz-Carlton Hotel and 430,000 square feet of Ritz-Carlton Residences.

MARRIOTT REVENUES totaled $2.9 billion in the 2006 second quarter, a 7 percent increase from the same period in 2005. Base and franchise fees rose 13 percent to $227 million as a result of unit growth and strong REVPAR improvement. Incentive fees climbed 48 percent to $77 million, driven by higher property-level house profit margins. Incentive fees in the 2006 second quarter were only $4 million, or 5 percent, shy of the fees earned in the same quarter of 2000, our peak year for earning incentive fees. In the 2006 second quarter, 56 percent of the company's managed properties paid incentive fees, compared to 42 percent in the year ago quarter.

House profit margins for North American comparable company-operated properties increased 300 basis points during the quarter, while house profit margins for worldwide company-operated properties grew 280 basis points. Higher room rates, strong food and beverage profits and continued cost efficiency measures drove strong margins. Property-level EBITDA margins for comparable North American company-operated properties, calculated as if wholly owned, increased 320 basis points.

Second quarter owned, leased, corporate housing and other revenue benefited from strong results from the owned and leased hotels the company acquired in 2005. Seven hotels were sold during the 2006 second quarter. The company retained long-term management agreements for six of the hotels and obtained a franchise agreement for one hotel. During the 2005 second quarter, owned, leased, corporate housing and other revenue included a $10 million fee for the termination of a hotel management agreement.

Contract sales for the company's timeshare, fractional and whole-ownership projects, including sales made by joint venture projects, surged 40 percent. Demand was particularly strong at the timeshare sequel project in Maui and new whole ownership joint venture projects under development in San Francisco and Kapalua. Approximately 95 percent of San Francisco's whole ownership project, under construction, was sold within a month of initiating sales. Demand for our other resorts also continues to be strong, particularly in Las Vegas, Aruba, Hawaii and Orlando.

Timeshare interval, fractional and whole ownership sales and services revenue declined one percent in the 2006 second quarter. Reported revenue in the 2006 quarter was constrained by projects in early stages of development which did not reach revenue reporting thresholds, offset somewhat by higher revenues from marketing-related villa rentals. In contrast, the 2005 quarter reflected very strong financially reportable sales at projects at or nearing sell-out.

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Timeshare interval, fractional and whole ownership sales and services revenue, net of direct expenses, declined 36 percent reflecting substantial sales and marketing costs for new projects in the early stages of development. Under the new timeshare accounting rules, most sales and marketing costs are expensed as incurred.

In the second half of 2006, the company plans to begin sales at the Marriott timeshare project in St. Kitts, and the Ritz-Carlton fractional and whole ownership projects in Miami Beach, and Kauai, Hawaii.

LODGING OPERATING INCOME for the second quarter of 2006 was $252 million compared to $77 million in the second quarter of 2005. In the 2006 quarter, strong results reflected outstanding fee growth from managed and franchised hotels and increased profits from owned and leased properties that the company acquired in 2005. General and administrative expenses were down 50 percent, to $141 million, primarily due to 2005 non comparable items. General and administrative expenses in the 2006 second quarter included $9 million associated with the new accounting rules requiring the expensing of all share- based compensation, offset by $2 million of foreign exchange gains, $4 million favorable impact related to the reversal of a guarantee reserve at one hotel, and $6 million lower deferred compensation expense. In the 2005 second quarter, the company recorded a $94 million charge associated with the CTF transaction, primarily related to the non-cash write-off of management agreements, $29 million of incentives paid to owners and franchisees to accelerate the roll-out of the new bedding program, $6 million related to guarantees at two hotels and a $12 million payment made to retain a management agreement.

SYNTHETIC FUEL operations contributed approximately $0.01 per share of after-tax earnings during the 2006 second quarter, compared to $0.09 in the year ago quarter. Lower synthetic fuel earnings reflected the suspension of production in April and an estimated 38 percent phase out of the 2006 tax credits due to higher oil prices. Excluding the impact of our synthetic fuel operations, the effective tax rate was approximately 35.9 percent in the second quarter of 2006. The company expects the tax rate for 2006, excluding synthetic fuel operations, to approximate 34.9 percent.

GAINS AND OTHER INCOME totaled $48 million (or $45 million excluding synthetic fuel) and included a $40 million gain on the sale of timeshare mortgage notes, $9 million of net gains from the sale of real estate, $29 million of net gains from the sale of our interest in four joint ventures and $4 million of preferred returns and other income. These gains were partially offset by a $37 million non-cash charge to adjust the carrying amount of a straight line rent receivable associated with a land lease which is subject to a purchase option that is likely to be exercised. Prior year's second quarter gains included a $29 million gain on the sale of timeshare mortgage notes, $22 million of gains resulting from the sale or refinancing of real estate loans and $4 million of other gains.

INTEREST EXPENSE increased $9 million to $30 million, primarily due to higher commercial paper balances and higher interest rates. The company issued $350 million of new senior debt on June 14, 2006.

INTEREST INCOME totaled $12 million during the quarter, down from $25 million in the year ago quarter, primarily driven by loan repayments in 2005.

At the end of the 2006 second quarter, total debt was $1,561 million and cash balances totaled $364 million, compared to $1,737 million in total debt and $203 million of cash at the end of 2005. Consistent with the company's strategy, Marriott recycled capital and generated cash proceeds of $810 million in the second quarter. The proceeds included $242 million from the sale of timeshare notes, $201 million from the sale of the company's interests in four joint ventures (including the joint venture with Whitbread), $355 million from the sale of seven properties (including five hotels acquired in 2005 as part of the transaction with CTF Holdings Ltd), and $12 million from notes receivable repayments. The company used part of the proceeds to repurchase 10.5 million shares of common stock in the second quarter of 2006 at a cost of $380 million. Year-to-date, through July 10, 2006, the company repurchased 20.7 million shares of common stock at a cost of $733 million. The remaining share repurchase authorization, as of July 10, 2006 totaled 15 million shares.

OUTLOOK

The company expects North American company-operated REVPAR to increase 9 to 11 percent in 2006. Assuming a 225 to 275 basis point improvement in house profit margins and approximately 25,000 new room openings (gross), the company expects total fee revenue of $1,190 million to $1,210 million, an increase of 16 to 18 percent.

The company expects timeshare interval, fractional and whole ownership sales and services revenues, net of expenses, will decline approximately 3 percent in 2006, reflecting lower contract sales in 2005 resulting from limited inventory, and higher sales and marketing costs associated with new projects. With strong customer interest in the company's new projects, Marriott continues to expect contract sales (including joint venture sales) to increase roughly 40 percent in 2006.

General, administrative and other expenses are expected to decline approximately 12 to 14 percent in 2006 to $650 million to $660 million from $753 million in 2005. The comparison reflects the impact in 2005 of the $94 million charge associated with the CTF transaction and $30 million in bedding incentives. This 2006 guidance includes an approximately $37 million pre-tax impact of the FAS No. 123(R), requiring the expensing of all share-based compensation (including stock options).

Given these above items, the company estimates that lodging operating income will total $950 million to $980 million in 2006, an increase of 36 to 40 percent over 2005.

The company expects lodging gains and other income to total approximately $130 million in 2006 (including approximately $75 million in timeshare mortgage note sale gains).

Net interest expense is expected to total $80 million, an increase of $25 million, primarily driven by loan repayments in 2005 resulting in reduced interest income, as well as higher average debt levels and interest rates.

Given the continued high level of oil prices and the uncertainty surrounding the availability of 2006 tax credits, the company suspended production at its four synthetic fuel facilities in April 2006. The company cannot yet predict whether or when the facilities will restart production and, as such, is unable to provide guidance for 2006 earnings from the synthetic fuel business. The net book value of the four facilities at the end of the second quarter 2006 was $15 million.

The company estimates North American company-operated REVPAR will grow 8 to 10 percent in the third quarter of 2006, with house profit margin growth of 225 to 275 basis points.

The company expects investment spending in 2006 to total approximately $950 million to $1 billion, including $50 million for maintenance capital spending, $325 million to $350 million for capital expenditures and acquisitions, $125 million to $135 million for timeshare development, $75 million in new mezzanine financing and mortgage loans for hotels developed by owners and franchisees, and approximately $375 million to $390 million in equity and other investments (including timeshare equity investments).

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Marriott to go 'smoke free' at all hotels in North America

WASHINGTON - Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) announced today that all of the Company's lodging brands in the United States and Canada will become 100 percent smoke-free, beginning in September. This represents the industry's largest move to a non-smoking environment, with more than 2,300 hotels and corporate apartments and nearly 400,000 guestrooms under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn, TownePlace Suites and Marriott ExecuStay brands.


"Creating a smoke-free environment demonstrates a new level of service and care for our guests and associates," said J.W. Marriott, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Marriott International. "Our family of brands is united on this important health issue and we anticipate very positive customer feedback."
The new policy includes all guest rooms, restaurants, lounges, meeting rooms, public space and employee work areas. Currently more than 90 percent of Marriott guest rooms are already non-smoking and smoking is prohibited in many public spaces due to local laws. Demand for non-smoking rooms continues to rise with new information from the Surgeon General on the hazards of secondary smoke.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE: MAR) is a leading lodging company with nearly 2,800 lodging properties in the United States and 67 other countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Bulgari brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club International, Horizons, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Grand Residences by Marriott brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and had approximately 143,000 employees at 2005 year-end. It is ranked by Fortune magazine as the lodging industry's most admired company and one of the best places to work for. In fiscal year 2005, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $11.6 billion

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Marriott International releases global growth plan through 2009

http://www.marriott.com/investor, click the "Recent Investor News" tab and click on the Analyst Meeting link. Presentation materials from the conference and an audio replay will be available on that same site indefinitely.

Note: This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws, including REVPAR, profit margin and earning trends; statements concerning the number of lodging properties we expect to add in future years; our expected investment spending; and similar statements concerning anticipated future events and expectations that are not historical facts. We caution you that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including the pace and extent of activity in both the economy and the lodging industry; supply and demand changes for hotel rooms, vacation ownership intervals, and corporate housing; competitive conditions in the lodging industry; relationships with clients and property owners; and the availability of capital to finance hotel growth and refurbishment; any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the statements herein. These statements are made as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE:MAR) is a leading lodging company with more than 2,800 lodging properties in the United States and 67 other countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Bulgari brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club International, Horizons, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Grand Residences by Marriott brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers. Marriott is also in the synthetic fuel business. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and had approximately 143,000 employees at 2005 year-end. In fiscal year 2005, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $11.6 billion.

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The New York Marriott Marquis and Schindler Elevator Corporation announced the completion of an $11 million elevator modernization project today.


The project involved a partnership with Schindler Elevator Corporation, based in Morristown, N.J., to install the Miconic 10® destination dispatch system, a system that calculates the fastest travel time to a passenger's destination, and assigns the appropriate elevator car to that passenger.

Executives from the New York Marriott Marquis and Schindler Elevator Corporation will commemorate the completion of the building's modernization today with a press conference in the hotel's Manhattan Ballroom. Press attendees will experience the newest in destination-based building travel and attend an elevator machine room tour for a behind-the-scenes look at the technology. Lunch will follow at The View Lounge for all attendees.

With 16 passenger elevators and six back-of-the-house elevators in the 49-story building, the New York Marriott Marquis is the first hotel in North America to install the Miconic 10 system. Opened in 1985, the New York Marriott Marquis was constructed as a group hotel to serve the needs of meeting and convention attendees. Planned to accommodate more than 2,000 hotel guests and visitors daily, the iconic hotel quickly surpassed that number. The daily traffic from non-hotel guests at Broadway's Marquis Theatre housed in the building, restaurant patrons dining at the hotel's various outlets, including the rotating View Restaurant and Lounge, and daily conferences, quickly created traffic management problems for the hotel's infrastructure.

"We strive to meet the needs of busy business and leisure travelers. Our old system unfortunately slowed down our response to guest needs, resulting in unhappy customers," says Ed Pietzak, director of engineering, New York Marriott Marquis. "The Miconic 10 system was the perfect solution, as it enhanced both our back-of-house operations and improved overall customer satisfaction, with significantly less waiting time for guest elevators."

The Miconic 10 satisfies the needs of the fast-paced Times Square hotel by improving overall traffic efficiencies. The system uses keypads in the hallways where users can input their destination, eliminating traditional pushbuttons in elevator cars. It then assigns the elevator that will transport the passengers to their destinations most efficiently. The Miconic 10 also tracks frequency of input requests on the keypad and factors in the capacity of the car based upon its weight, allowing full cars to run in an express mode and avoid unnecessary stops.

"We're pleased to have partnered with one of the Big Apple's most renowned hotels," says Scott Stadelman, president, Schindler North American Operations. "The improved passenger wait times and enhanced back-of-house efficiencies that resulted after the installation of the Miconic 10 prove the success of the system."

Schindler Elevator Corporation is the originator of the Miconic 10 destination-based technology. The company has installed more than 600 Miconic 10 elevators in buildings throughout the United States and has completed more than 3,000 installations worldwide.



About Schindler Elevator Corporation
Schindler Elevator Corporation manufactures, installs, services and modernizes a broad range of elevators, escalators and moving walks for various people-moving applications. The company is the North American operation of the Swiss-based Schindler Group, the world's largest escalator manufacturer and the second largest elevator manufacturer. For additional information about Schindler Elevator Corporation, visit the company's website at www.us.schindler.com

About the New York Marriott Marquis
Located in the heart of Times Square and Broadway's bustling theater district, the 49-story New York Marriott Marquis opened in 1985 and is one of the largest Marriott hotels in the world. This landmark hotel, designed by John Portman, has great architectural interest, including a 37-story atrium. All 1,946 guest rooms and suites are spacious and comfortably appointed, many of which offer a Times Square view. The hotel features more than 100,000-square-feet of meeting and banquet space, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and the 1,600-seat Marquis Theatre. Gourmet diners enjoy several restaurant choices, including The View, New York's only revolving rooftop restaurant; Katen, the hotel's sushi bar; and Encore Restaurant, for all-day dining. Classic cocktails are served at the dramatic Atrium Lounge, and guests can relax while overlooking the lights of Broadway in the Broadway Lounge.

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New York - Sonnenblick Goldman, serving as the exclusive advisor to Plant Hotel N.V., has arranged the sale of the ownership entity holding the leasehold interest in the 413-room Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino for $237 million to the Caribbean Real Estate Opportunity Fund. NIBC Bank NV (of the Netherlands) acted as financial advisor to the majority shareholder of Plant Hotel NV. Marriott will continue to manage the resort for the new owners under a long-term management agreement.

The leasehold interest of the 413-room Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino was purchased for $237 million by the Caribbean Real Estate Opportunity Fund.

The resort features the largest guestrooms on the island including 20 suites - all with direct ocean views. The AAA Four Star Aruba Marriott is one of Aruba's premier destination resorts and includes a 17,000-square-foot casino and 11,000 square feet of well-appointed meeting and banquet space. The property features an ideal Palm Beach location, Caribbean-style accommodations, an extensive array of food and beverage outlets and a wide variety of resort activities and amenities.
"Aruba is an ideal market for investment given its unique attributes which include great airlift, ideal weather, a stable political climate and labor pool, high barriers to entry and strong asset performance," commented Mark J. Gordon, managing director and principal of Sonnenblick Goldman and head of the firm's International Lodging & Leisure Group. "Furthermore, the long term management contract with Marriott will ensure the resort's successful performance. These factors, in addition to a favorable interest from the lenders to finance the acquisition resulted in strong interest from the international investment community."

Aruba, a bustling resort destination known for its pristine white sand beaches, championship golf courses and pleasant tropical climate, is home to approximately 100,000 residents. With tourism as its key industry, the island of Aruba hosted 732,400 visitors in 2005 alone. According to Travel + Leisure Magazine, Aruba is the sixth most popular island resort location in the world.

Mark Owens, a vice president at Sonnenblick Goldman added, "Aruba's market dynamics combined with the contemplated renovation strategy the buyer intends to pursue will make the Aruba Marriott one of the Caribbean's leading vacation destinations."

Sonnenblick Goldman's International Lodging & Leisure Group has completed more than $4 billion in recent hospitality transactions, including the sales of 485 Fifth Avenue in New York, which involved the conversion of an office building to a hotel; the sale of the Pan Pacific Hotel in San Francisco; the sale of the Conrad Hotel in Chicago; the sales of the Beekman Tower and Eastgate hotels in New York; as well as numerous recent hotel financings including the Hay-Adams Hotel in Washington, D.C.; the Wyland Waikiki in Honolulu; the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills; the Westin Dallas; the Dream and Shoreham Hotels in New York and the Renaissance Ilikai Resort in Honolulu.

Sonnenblick Goldman is the industry's leading independent real estate investment banking firm. Founded in 1893 to serve the financing needs of the real estate industry, Sonnenblick Goldman provides a full range of financial services, including debt and equity placements, joint ventures, investment sales and advisory services. Headquartered in New York, Sonnenblick Goldman has a strong presence in Hong Kong, San Francisco, Shanghai, Sydney and Tokyo.

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www.forbes.com/lists

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Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) unveiled the stylish new SpringHill Suites at an exclusive gathering in Los Angeles coinciding with the American Lodging Investment Summit. Marriott International is enhancing SpringHill - already one of its most successful and fastest growing brands - to further distance it from the brand's competitors in the lifestyle segment. Launched nine years ago, SpringHill appeals to active, style-conscious guests seeking an upper moderate tier brand. SpringHill already dwarfs its rivals with 155 hotels across the United States and Canada and over 140 more in its development pipeline.

SpringHill is evolving to the next level in design, service and amenities due to the changing landscape of business travel. The line between productivity and personal enjoyment is blurring, and hotels are expected to offer experiences that go well beyond a comfortable bed and a clean bathroom. For the underserved and growing segment of enjoyment-seeking guests, SpringHill will be a breath of fresh air blending smart, striking design with essential comforts and service excellence.

"The evolution is a collaboration between SpringHill and owners on its Franchise Advisory Committee to elevate a brand that already has approximately a 20 percent RevPAR premium* and make it even more successful in the lifestyle segment with consumers and with developers of mixed-use projects," said Laura Bates, senior vice president, select service and extended stay brands, Marriott International. "Our close collaboration with owners and franchisees means they are already incorporating the new design into new-build properties and because the new design will fit into the footprint of existing hotels, planned renovations will be easy to incorporate as well."

Hotels with elements of the new design will open late this year with the first complete package opening in 2008. Marriott projects that by the end of 2009, 75 percent of SpringHill's hotels will have most or all of the key design features, enabling the brand to redefine the upper moderate lifestyle category and penetrate new markets.

SpringHill's positioning and design evolution is backed by the full power of Marriott International, including the company's unmatched sales engines, service excellence, guest loyalty and industry expertise. With its track record of success in developing and guiding winning brands, the company expects SpringHill's popularity to continue to grow among customers as well as owners and franchisees.

Design

The new SpringHill public space features an innovative and contemporary design aesthetic that is fresh, open, flexible and functional. The public space uses lighting, music, moveable "softwalls" and changeable graphic panels to create distinctive environments throughout the day. Guests can explore, connect, work and relax as they see fit. Features include an expanded and improved fitness area with pool, an outdoor terrace enclosed by a living green wall, and a market that serves as the guest?s 24/7 source for healthy snacks, indulgent treats, drinks and simple travel needs.

The guest room, already 25 percent larger than traditional hotel guest rooms, has been completely redesigned into a space that is both comforting and inspiring - a seamless blend of style and functionality. The sleeping area provides a fresh color palette that combines with a cleanly designed wardrobe, desk, hospitality and entertainment center, large window with feature wooden seat and signature bedding package to create a truly rejuvenating bedroom environment. The living area features a 32" flat-panel high-definition LCD television and a sectional sofa with fold-out double bed. Modular tables and an area with mini-fridge, microwave and coffee maker exemplify the efficient, flexible nature of the space.

Unique for hotels in its category, SpringHill will offer guests separate bathroom and shower areas accessed through sleek, attractive sliding doors. The spa-like shower room highlights include a glass enclosure for a refreshing shower, distinctive vanity and mirror, iridescent tile wall, and creative lighting feature, all of which help guests relax and reenergize.

The SpringHill strategy is based on extensive research and was developed with consultants from Publicis BOS Group and Callison Architects. SpringHill ? where style meets substance.

- According to Smith Travel Research

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE: MAR) is a leading lodging company with more than 2,800 lodging properties in the United States and 67 other countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Bulgari brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club International, Horizons, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Grand Residences by Marriott brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers and golf courses. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and had approximately 143,000 employees at 2005 year-end. It is ranked as the lodging industry's most admired company and one of the best places to work for by FORTUNE. The company is also a 2006 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR Partner. In fiscal year 2005, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $11.6 billion.

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 -- Beginning February 15, the more than six million pounds of French fries* served in Marriott International hotels annually will no longer be prepared using partially-hydrogenated oils, a primary source of trans fats. The elimination of trans fats in fried foods and deep frying oils is the culmination of an eight-year effort to remove trans fats from the vast majority of food served at more than 2,300 Marriott International hotels throughout the U.S. and Canada, including Marriott, JW Marriott, Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn and TownePlace Suites.

Marriott has already eliminated trans fats from artisanal breads, salad dressings, pancake and waffle mixes, muffins, croissants and cookies at all hotels in the U.S. and Canada.

"Our first objective is always to serve quality food. We have conducted extensive testing to find the right oils and other foods that have exceptional taste, as well as no trans fats, which is partially responsible for many health issues such as obesity and heart disease" said Brad Nelson, vice president of culinary and corporate chef. (See Chef Nelson discuss trans fats at YouTube - Marriott Eliminates Trans Fats)

He added that Marriott has been working on eliminating trans fats as far back as 1998. "Good cooking starts with solid principles. Our philosophy of great ingredients prepared simply and with perfect execution is the best way to deliver and exceed our guests' expectations."

In 2003 Marriott introduced the Fit For You program at Marriott and JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts and last year the company introduced the Eat.Drink.Balance program at Renaissance Hotels & Resorts. Both programs were designed to address healthy eating and dietary issues including low fat, low cholesterol and carb conscious foods. Food sold in Marriott's retail stores and breakfast, lunch, dinner and room service menus identify which items fit these categories.

Marriott has been an industry leader in helping its guests to live a healthy lifestyle. Last year, all Marriott International hotels in North America became smoke-free. This includes all guest rooms, public spaces, meeting rooms, restaurants, lounges and employee work areas. Marriott also offers 24-hour access to free fitness centers at all full-service hotels.

*The number of French fries made by Marriott International hotels in 2006.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE:MAR) is a leading lodging company with more than 2,800 lodging properties in the United States and 67 other countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Bulgari brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club International, Horizons, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Grand Residences by Marriott brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers and golf courses. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and had approximately 143,000 employees at 2005 year-end. It is ranked as the lodging industry's most admired company and one of the best places to work for by FORTUNE(R). The company is also a 2006 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR(R) Partner. In fiscal year 2005, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $11.6 billion.

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Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) announced today that Sed de SaberTM ("thirst for knowledge") a learning device to enhance the English skills of Spanish-speaking associates will be available to over 2,400 hotels nationwide on Feb. 15. The company also reported that more than 85 percent of all program participants gained in English proficiency during a four-month pilot last year. As a part of the implementation, all hotels will have access to the language program.
In support of the program, Marriott appointed property champions to act as mentors to offer ongoing support for program participants. The weekly mentor-protege sessions helped to gauge progress, encourage learning and provide continuous feedback.

Marriott launched the Sed de SaberTM pilot program last summer at 23 hotels in 13 U.S. cities including Miami, Fla., New York, N.Y., Forth Worth and Dallas, Texas and the Washington, D.C. metro area.

"We are thrilled with the results," said David Rodriguez, executive vice president, global human resources, Marriott International, Inc. "Our feedback shows stronger associate-manager relationships, improved self-confidence on the job and enthusiasm to learn more. We are also pleased at how this is helping our associates outside the workplace as well. In our eyes, that's a huge success."

Sed de SaberTM is a portable, electronic learning system developed by Retention Education, LLC. It uses storytelling, voice recording, games and review exercises to build and improve English language skills. Sed de SaberTM combines English as a second language curriculum with the Leapfrog Quantum Pad Plus Microphone?, allowing the learner to record, playback, and compare his/her voice to the word or phrase being learned, which increases confidence in pronunciation skills.

The Sed de SaberTM program is a part of Marriott's ongoing commitment to diversity and workforce development. For more information on Marriott's Diversity Initiatives, visit www.marriott.com.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE: MAR) is a leading lodging company with more than 2,800 lodging properties in the United States and 67 other countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Bulgari brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club International, Horizons, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Grand Residences by Marriott brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers and golf courses. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and had approximately 143,000 employees at 2005 year-end. It is ranked as the lodging industry's most admired company and one of the best places to work for by FORTUNE. The company is also a 2006 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR Partner. In fiscal year 2005, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $11.6 billion.

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Marriott International (NYSE:MAR) is on track to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by nearly one-fifth over a ten year period from 2000 to 2010 -- approaching one million tons of climate warming gases, or the equivalent of taking nearly 140,000 cars off the roads*. This industry leading effort is part of a comprehensive global campaign to reduce Marriott's environmental footprint and save energy costs.
In April, all 2,800 hotels in nearly 70 countries will also help Marriott celebrate Environmental Awareness Month, marking the company's biggest effort to promote eco-friendly practices on the road, at work, at home and in the community. The month-long drive enlists Marriott customers, associates and business partners in a variety of projects to save, recycle and reuse, including:

Clean Up the World -- In partnership with Clean Up the World, a global green volunteer organization, Marriott hotels will join forces on a variety of local clean-up projects including the River Thames in London, the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., San Francisco Bay in California and Taba Heights beach in Egypt. Other improvement projects include parks, beaches and wildlife preservation. For information on Clean Up the World, visit http://www.cleanuptheworld.org/.

True Green -- Marriott will promote a new book by Clean Up the World's Co- founder, Kim McKay, and Director, Jenny Bonnin. It features 100 everyday ways to contribute to a healthier planet. On Earth Day, April 22, Marriott will offer its guests a free bookmark listing eco-friendly travel tips.

Global Tree Planting -- Associates will plant 3,000 trees at hotels around the world, including 80 trees at Marriott's headquarters in celebration of the company's 80th anniversary. Tree planting is a key way to offset carbon emissions -- one tree can remove approximately one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.

Green Products Fair -- Marriott leverages partnerships with global suppliers to promote development and use of green products in the lodging industry. The company will sponsor a Green Fair for associates on April 20 at Marriott's headquarters with companies such as Ecolab, TruGreen Landscaping and Starbucks.

Recycling -- Marriott will launch a pilot program at 30 hotels to measure, standardize and expand recycling companywide. Currently, more than 96 percent of Marriott hotels around the world actively recycle. In 2006, Marriott headquarters recycled more than half of its solid waste.

Eco Awareness -- Throughout April, Marriott customers will have the opportunity to win the ultimate "Eco-cation" to Costa Rica. Customers will have a chance to enter a video to showcase how they are cleaning up the world and learn more about Marriott's environmental programs via a YouTube video. Information on Marriott's recognition of Environmental Awareness Month will also be available on Marriott.com and Bill Marriott's blog.

Marriott's Long-Standing Commitment to the Environment

Marriott has been committed to the environment for 20 years and is substantially reducing greenhouse gases and improving the environment. Programs making a difference include:

-- The "Re-Lamp" campaign, which replaced 450,000 light bulbs with fluorescent lighting in 2006 and saved 65 percent on overall lighting costs and energy usage in guest rooms.

-- The Linen Reuse Program, a global effort to encourage guests to reuse linens and towels during their hotel stay saved an average of 11 to 17 percent on hot water and sewer costs involved in laundering operations at each hotel.

-- Marriott's smoke-free policy in all U.S. and Canadian hotels announced last year improves indoor air quality and will result in a 30 percent reduction in energy-use for air treatment systems.

-- Marriott's "Ozone Activated Laundry" and "Formula One Systems" can save up to 25 percent in energy used in laundry systems.

-- Replacement of 4,500 outdoor signs with LED and fiber optic technology, yielding a 40 percent reduction in outdoor advertising energy use in its first year.

-- Installation of 400,000 new shower heads which reduce hot water usage by 10 percent each year. Over 60 percent of Marriott hotels worldwide use water-saving toilets.

-- Procurement of Energy Star compliant technology including desktops, laptops, printers and scanners. Marriott's Technology Asset Disposal Program has also collected thousands of old computers and cell phones for either re-use or safe disposal.

-- Marriott appointed three Regional Directors of Energy, and three architects certified by the U.S. Green Building Council for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) to help oversee a variety of programs including Marriott's first LEED-certified hotel, The Inn and Conference Center by Marriott at the University of Maryland University College in Adelphi, Md.

-- Designation of an executive-level Green Council led by Arne Sorenson, executive vice president, CFO and president -- Continental European Lodging, Marriott International; Ed Fuller, president and managing director, Marriott International Lodging -- International; and Kathleen Matthews, executive vice president, global communications and public affairs, Marriott International.

-- Each hotel throughout the Marriott system has a designated Energy and Environmental Ambassador who helps the property maintain standards and finds new ways to improve the environment.

-- Launched Marriott Environmentally Conscious Hospitality Operations (ECHO) in 1994 -- an award-winning program that focuses on water and energy conservation, clean air, "reduce-reuse-recycle" waste management, wildlife preservation and neighborhood cleanups.

Marriott International is also a sponsor of Green Hotelier magazine and a founding member of the Tourism Partnership, a UK-based global industry group promoting responsible and environmentally conscious tourism.

Marriott International has been recognized as the Sustained Excellence Award winner after receiving the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for Excellence in Energy Management for the past two years. Additionally, Marriott was awarded more ENERGY STAR labels (160) than any other hotel company and has plans to certify eighty-five additional hotels by year-end.

For more "green" news and Marriott's ongoing commitment to conserve and preserve, visit the Environmental Stewardship page on marriott.com.

*Marriott calculation based on published EPA data.