World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Honors Marriott With 'Tourism for Tomorrow...

World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Honors Marriott With 'Tourism for
Tomorrow Award for Sustainability'

FLORIANOPOLIS, Brazil, May 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Marriott International
(NYSE: MAR) has been selected as the recipient of the prestigious and highly
competitive "2009 Tourism for Tomorrow Award for Sustainability" in the Global
Tourism Business category by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). The
global award recognizes the company's achievements in demonstrating
sustainable tourism practices, including the protection of natural and
cultural heritage, social and economic benefits to local people and
environmentally-friendly operations.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090512/PH15442LOGO )

"Now, more than ever, sustainability and environmental stewardship are good
for the planet, good for business and are vital to the future of travel and
tourism," said Ed Fuller, Marriott's President and Managing Director of
International Lodging and co-chair of the company's Executive Green Council,
who accepted the award at WTTC's Global Travel & Tourism Summit in
Florianopolis, Brazil.

Marriott was selected from a record number of entries from more than 40
countries and six continents, based on an exhaustive nomination and on-site
evaluations. The judges visited Marriott's global headquarters in Bethesda,
Md., where they met with the company's Executive Green Council and toured the
facility, which should receive LEED(R)-(Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design) Existing Building status from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
by year-end. They also toured several hotels to observe their
environmentally-friendly operations, including the The Inn and Conference
Center by Marriott at the University of Maryland in College Park, which is
LEED(R)-certified; the JW Marriott Hotel Washington, DC and the Washington
Marriott at Metro Center in Washington, D.C.; the Los Angeles Marriott
Downtown; and the Miami Airport Marriott, Eden Roc, a Renaissance Beach Resort
& Spa, The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove, and The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, all
in Miami, Fla.

"We have reached a global tipping point in the travel industry, as more
businesses and countries realize that sustainable tourism is not only about
protecting the environment and safeguarding cultural diversity, but that it is
also an important economic opportunity," said Costas Christ, Chairman of
Judges, WTTC.

Building on 20 years of energy conservation experience, Marriott is committed
to protecting the environment and addressing climate change. Some of the most
recent outcomes from the company's Spirit To Preserve(TM) strategy include:

-- When guests book a room on Marriott.com or visit Green-Brazilian
Rainforest, they can help protect 1.4 million acres of the Amazon
rainforest in Brazil, joining Marriott in its $2 million commitment.
Guests can offset the carbon generated during their stay for as little
as US$10. Recently, about six members of Marriott's sales team
visited this rainforest reserve after helping raise more than $400,000
through Marriott's Spirit To Preserve(TM) group meetings promotion.
[Watch our video to learn more and see the rainforest:
www.youtube.com/marriottgreen.]

-- Marriott is expanding its portfolio of green hotels--more than 30
hotels
are expected to achieve LEED(R) certification from the U.S. Green
Building Council (USGBC), with at least a dozen set to open in 2009
and
2010. For three consecutive years, Marriott has received the
Sustained
Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
which has awarded its ENERGY STAR(R) label to approximately 275
Marriott-branded hotels, the most of any hotel company.

-- Marriott is greening its $10 billion supply chain, replacing its
plastic
key cards, towels, pens, toilet paper, pillows, and paint with more
environmentally-friendly options.

Marriott has been recognized for its environmental leadership in the hotel
industry by several groups, including Ceres, an alliance of investors and
environmentalists; the non-profit organization ClimateCounts.org; and Travel +
Leisure magazine.

For more information on Marriott's eco-friendly initiatives, visit
www.marriott.com/spirittopreserve and follow Marriott Green on Twitter. Also,
join the conversation about traveling green by becoming a fan of Travel Green
on Facebook.

Visit Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) for a company overview.

SOURCE Marriott International

Stephanie Hampton, Marriott International, +1-301-380-1217,
Stephanie.hampton@marriott.com