Press Release

Marriott International Names Bill Countryman General Manager Of Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa

MAUI, Hawaii – December 8, 2008 – Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) has named Bill Countryman general manager of the award-winning Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa (waileamarriott.com). He was most recently general manager of the 356- room Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club where there are 233 Marriott Vacation Club ownership villas.

“We are thrilled to congratulate Bill on his new position and look forward to welcoming him back to Maui,” said Ed Hubennette, vice president for North Asia, Hawaii and South Pacific, Marriott International. “With more than 32 years of hospitality experience at several key international and domestic Marriott International branded hotels and vacation ownership properties, Bill has a wealth of operational and marketing skills to drive our hotel performance.”

In his role, Mr. Countryman will be responsible for the 546-room Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa located in Maui’s luxurious Wailea Resort destination. Since the recently completed $60 million renovation earlier this year, the beachfront resort hotel has been the recipient of several awards including the AAA Four Diamond Award. imgHighlights of the transformation include beautifully appointed guestrooms and suites, the new Maluhia Serenity Pool offering six exclusive over-the-water cabanas, Mandara Spa, and Mala Wailea Restaurant and Lounge. Guests can also experience nearby championship golf, tennis and The Shops at Wailea.

Mr. Countryman began his career with Marriott as a banquet chef at the Philadelphia Marriott City Line Avenue in September 1975. He then held other positions including director of operations at the Maui Marriott Resort; director of food & beverage at Maui Marriott Resort and Irvine Marriott Hotel; and executive chef at Anaheim Marriott Hotel, Las Palmas Resort and Newport Beach Marriott Resort. In Hawaii, he was the resort manager at Marriott’s Kaua‘i Beach Club, and area director of operations for Pacific Islands, Marriott International from 2001 to 2003.

He is the recipient of numerous awards including Marriott International General Manager Mustang Award in 2005, 2006 and 2007. He was also recognized for the 2007 Marriott Financial Leadership Award. The Hawaii State Senate awarded Mr. Countryman the 2006 Outstanding Community Leader commendation.

A Hawaii resident for the past 20 years, Mr. Countryman has been actively involved in the community and Hawaiian host culture.

He and his wife Dianne have three children.

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MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) is a leading lodging company with more than 3,100 lodging properties in the United States and 66 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, Horizons by Marriott Vacation Club, 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 Bethesda, Md., and had approximately 151,000 employees at 2007 year-end. It is ranked as the lodging industry’s most admired company and one of the best companies to work for by FORTUNE®, and has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the 2007 Sustained Excellence Award and Partner of the Year since 2004. In fiscal year 2007, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $13 billion. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com.

Editor’s Note: Jpgs of Bill Countryman and resort are available upon request.

For More Information, Contact:

Bernie Caalim or Jeanne Datz Rice
McNeil Wilson Communications
1003 Bishop Street, 9th Floor
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 531-0244
Fax: (808) 521-7163
E-mail: bernie.caalim@mwc-anthology.com
or jeanne.datz.rice@mwc-anthology.com

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