Marriott Reinforces UK & Ireland Commitment

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. October 14, 2008

LONDON, UK, July 12, 2005. Marriott International announced today wide-ranging developments following the agreement it concluded with Whitbread PLC in May which established a 50/50 joint ownership venture with Whitbread and enabled Marriott to assume management of Whitbread's portfolio of 46 franchised Marriott and Renaissance hotels offering over 8,000 rooms. As previously announced, Marriott said it expected the joint venture to sell the hotels to other owners within three years with Marriott taking back long term management agreements.

"We've made tremendous strides over the past couple of months in gaining a better understanding of this impressive portfolio of hotels as well as their operational staff and the significant opportunities these properties present for the future," said Ed Fuller, president and managing director of International Lodging for Marriott International. "The United Kingdom & Ireland is our Number One market outside of the United States both as a destination and a source market for our other destinations. We have been operating in the country since 1984 with the opening of the London Marriott Grosvenor Square and today, with 76 properties and almost 13,000 rooms, we are one of the largest hotel operators in the this market."

He said that under the new structure Marriott has more management contract opportunities in Great Britain than it enjoyed in the past.

New Area Operating Team Announced

As a result, Marriott has appointed a second area operating team for North and West England & Scotland which will be headed by Mark Satterfield as area vice president. He and his team of four will be responsible for Marriott International-branded hotels in Scotland, the Pennines, Midlands and Western England. Area Vice President Robert Gaymer-Jones and his team will be responsible for hotels in Greater London, Ireland, and Eastern England.

New Hotel Announced

Marriott also announced a new hotel for the United Kingdom. It is the 156-room London Marriott Twickenham which is planned to open in 2007. The hotel will be managed by Marriott in part of what is currently the south stand of Twickenham Rugby Stadium. Due to its location, the hotel will be highly visible from the main arterial road leading from central London to the M3 and M25 motorway. Heathrow International is just 20 minutes' drive away.

For dining and entertainment, the London Marriott Twickenham will have a casual restaurant, lobby lounge and bar. Recreational amenities will include an adjacent indoor swimming pool and fitness area. Other amenities will include a business center, room service, in-room mini-bar and retail shops. For conferences and social events, the hotel will have 11,032 square feet of meeting space comprised of a 7,400 square foot conference room that will be divisible into three sections and two 1,816 square foot meeting rooms.