MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL TO OPEN NINE HOTELS IN THE MIDDLE EAST BY 2004

Marriott International (NYSE:MAR) will open nine hotels in the Middle East by 2004, representing its Marriott, JW Marriott, Renaissance and Marriott Executive Apartments brands.

By the end of 2004, the Marriott International portfolio in the region will grow to 31 hotels, offering 8,978 rooms and spanning four lodging brands in 10 countries. This growth represents a 30 percent increase in hotels, and 22 percent increase in rooms and the addition of one country over the year 2000 and supports the company’s plans to open over 1,000 hotels and timesharing resorts and 175,000 gross room additions between 1999 and 2003.

"Our growth is being fueled by customer preference for our hotels and by owner and franchisee demand for our brands,” said Paul Malcom, regional vice president for sales and marketing for the company’s United Kingdom and Middle East region.

“We are very excited by our continued growth in the region,” he continued. “It has been 21 years since we opened our first hotel in the region, the 395-room Riyadh Marriott Hotel in Saudi Arabia, and our goal is to be represented in all major gateway cities, commercial centers and established resort destination in the region.”He said that the company is especially heartened to see its regional portfolio gain depth in several important markets such as United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt.

“We will introduce our first Marriott Executive Apartments lodging product in the Middle East, the 172-unit Dubai Marriott Executive Apartments, later this year. This hotel is aimed at business executives traveling on an overseas apartment of 30 days or more,” he explained.

In Egypt, where Marriott International already operates four hotels, he said that the company will open three more hotels this year. They are:

A representative of the JW Marriott hotel brand, the 425-room JW Marriott Resort Mirage City, Cairo. This hotel brand caters to discerning, upscale travelers who value a high level of personal service and a luxurious environment that is both understated and tasteful.

The 310-room Taba Marriott Hotel & Beach Resort on the Red Sea.

The second Renaissance-branded hotel in the country, the 168-room Renaissance Golden View Hotel, Sharm el Sheikh.

Elsewhere in the Middle East and Africa, this year, Marriott International will add the following:

178-room Renaissance Tunis Hotel in Tunisia.
216-room Jordan Valley Marriott Resort at the Dead Sea in Jordan.

The 100-room Petra Hotel in Jordan will be rebranded to the Marriott flag, following an extensive renovation program.

By the end of 2004, the following hotels will join Marriott International’s portfolio in the Middle East:

150-room Madinah Marriott Hotel in Saudi Arabia, opening in 2002
300-room Aqaba Marriott Hotel and Resort in Jordan, opening in 2004.

Mr. Malcom noted that the Mirage City and Jordan Valley properties are prime examples of the growing importance of spas in the Marriott International Lodging portfolio. “Mirage City will boast a 120,000 square-foot spa with 24 treatment rooms and the Dead Sea area is renowned for its curative waters,” he said.

Additional hotels are under negotiation.