Marriott Goes ‘Smoke-Free’ at All Hotels in North America

More Than 2,300 Properties and 10 Lodging Brands

Lodging Industry’s Largest Move Ever to a Smoke-Free Environment

Exerpts from other news stories:

"Marriott is a very conservative company. They're not known for being ahead of the curve on social issues," said Robert Rauch, a professor in San Diego State University's Hospitality and Tourism Management Program. "They're taking a calculated risk and one that I didn't expect out of them." [LA Times, 7/19/06]

Westin Hotels, operated by Starwood Hotels and Resorts, which also owns W brands and Sheraton, became the first chain to go smoke-free last year. That decision "has been overwhelmingly positive for our associates and our guests," said Sue Brand, Westin's senior vice president. [LA Times, 7/19/06]

More than 90 percent of Marriott's hotel rooms in the United States and Canada are already smokefree, but smoking will now be eliminated in public spaces, such as restaurants, bars, and meeting rooms. The change in policy will start in September. Guests who smoke in hotel rooms face a clean-up fee ranging from $200 to $300. [Joe Cherner, 7/19/06]

CONTACT:
Stephanie Hampton
(301) 380-1217
stephanie.hampton@marriott.com

Washington , DC - 19 July 2006 -

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 guest rooms 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. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com.