NEW COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT HOTEL PLANNED FOR KUWAIT WITH PROPERTY OPENING IN 2003

Hotel will be First Courtyard Hotel in the Middle East

Marriott International (NYSE:MAR) plans to open a 34-story, 310-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel in Kuwait City in 2003, as part of a management agreement reached with Salhia Real Estate Company K.S.C., a commercial real estate development firm.

The Courtyard by Marriott Hotel will be part of an inspirational multi-use project at the eastern entrance of Kuwait City that includes the Arraya Shopping Center, the Arraya Convention Center, the Arraya Office Tower, a Plaza of coffee shops and dining outlets, and a multi-story car park for 1,400 vehicles.

Courtyard by Marriott hotels are aimed at business and leisure travellers who need consistent, high quality accommodations and services at moderate, affordable rates.

“We are very excited to introduce our Courtyard brand in the Middle East and to be working with Salhia Real Estate Company,” said Ed Fuller, president and managing director of international lodging for Marriott International. “We are equally delighted to be returning to Kuwait following an absence of more than 15 years.”

“The Arraya Center is going to be one of the biggest projects in Kuwait, and will really boost the country’s economy,” said Ghazi Alnafisi, Chairman of Salhia Real Estate Company. “We are extremely pleased to have this agreement with Marriott International. The new hotel will attract both business and leisure travelers. The Arraya Project will be one of the finest in Kuwait, and will be an endearing landmark in the city.”

“The project was developed using the most advanced technology available today, and sets new standards in design. Safety, convenience and comfort are the cornerstones of the project, creating an efficient and pleasant business environment.”

Services and amenities offered by Courtyard hotels vary country to country, but are appropriate to the needs of guests in the host country. All hotels feature superior quality guestrooms that are usually larger than rooms offered by other hotels in its segment. In-room business amenities include dataport, a large work desk and good lighting. Public space at all Courtyard hotels feature casual ambience that is designed to make guests feel comfortable and welcomed.

For dining and entertainment, the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel will offer a lobby lounge in an eight-story atrium, two cafes and a specialty restaurant. Other amenities will include a rooftop swimming pool, a health club, a 24-hour business center with a private meeting room, satellite and Internet access and a prayer room.

For conferences and social events, the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel will have 900 square meters of meeting space on the third floor that will be comprised of five individual meeting rooms in varying configurations.

There are currently more than 500 Courtyard hotels in 10 countries around the world, 42 of which are located outside the U.S. Scheduled to open over the next two years are Courtyard hotels in Shanghai, China; San Jose, Costa Rica; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Amsterdam, the Netherlands at Schiphol International Airport; and at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, France.