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Press Release

Marriott Resorts Hawaii Puts Pedal to the Metal in the “Spirit of Aloha Tour” in Japan

Retired sumotori champion Konishiki, the first foreigner to reach the rank of “ozeki” in Japan’s national sport, attracts thousands as he promotes tourism to his native Hawaii

 

Honolulu, Hawaii – October 5, 2009 –  Marriott Resorts Hawaii (www.marriotthawaii.com/spiritofaloha) has been drawing tens of thousands of crowds these past four days in Japan as part of Marriott’s Spirit of Aloha Bus Tour from October 2 to October 8, 2009.

With partners Hawaii Tourism Japan, Japan Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and Polynesian Cultural Center, the Spirit of Aloha Japan Tour has been an entertaining drive through three key Japanese cities – Nagoya, Osaka, and Tokyo.

The company’s first ever promotional bus tour in Japan features Hawaii’s Konishiki who thrilled the world during his professional sumo career that spanned from 1982 to 1997 when he retired as the second highest rank in Japan’s national sport.

“Konishiki has been a key factor towards bringing a wave of goodwill to Japan in promoting his native Hawaii as a great vacation destination,” said Ed Hubennette, vice president for North Asia, Hawaii and South Pacific, Marriott International.

In Nagoya, Polynesian Cultural Center conducted a traditional Hawaiian blessing for the launch of the seven-day, three-city tour. The event was held at City Hall where the Mayor of Nagoya, Takashi Kawamura, crooned everyone with his rendition of “Blue Hawaii” made famous by Elvis Presley. (See Elvis fan club website at http://elvis.hostoi.com/nagoya-mayor-greets-the-crowd-with-blue-hawaii/) Also attending the Hawaiian Blessing and Launch ceremony were Takahiro Kato, JAL - Executive Officer for Nagoya and Central Japan, and Takashi Ichikura, Hawaii Tourism Japan - Executive Director.

Buoyed on the success of Marriott’s Spirit of Aloha bus tour that traveled across the United States in January 2009, the Japan Tour has been visiting agents and tour wholesale suppliers and making public and media appearances at festivals, parades and shopping malls. A specially designed luxury tour bus called, "Dream Cruiser Luxury Bus," has been on a seven-day campaign blitz as follows:

  • October 2-4 Nagoya and Osaka
  • October 4-8 Tokyo

Serving as a goodwill ambassador of Hawaii on Marriott’s Spirit of Aloha Tour is retired sumotori Konishiki, who is now a recording music artist and Japanese variety TV show host.

Joining Konishiki from Marriott Resorts Hawaii are:

  • Ed Hubennette, vice president for North Asia, Hawaii, and South Pacific, Marriott International
  • General managers and the area director of sales and marketing for Asia Pacific
  • Marriott’s retail sales team based in Japan
  • Dancers from the Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu

Also participating in Marriott’s Spirit of Aloha Tour are representatives from Japan Airlines (www.jal.com) which brings close to 60 percent of all visitors from Japan to Hawaii, Hawaiian Airlines (www.hawaiianair.com) which provides service for Japanese visitors between the Hawaiian Islands, Polynesian Cultural Center (www.polynesia.com) and Hawaii Tourism Japan.

Visit www.marriottalohatour.com to get updates and more information on the next U.S. Marriott’s Spirit of Aloha Tour, which kicks off January 19, 2010 with stops in Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Charlotte, Nashville, St. Louis, Omaha, Denver, Salt Lake City and Los Angeles.

Marriott International in Hawaii is represented by six resort hotels on four major islands:

  • JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa – Oahu
  • Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa – Oahu
  • Courtyard by Marriott Waikiki Beach - Oahu
  • Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club – Kauai
  • Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa – Maui
  • Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa – Big Island
  • In addition, there are four Marriott Vacation Club International vacation ownership resorts: Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club on Oahu, Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club on Maui and Marriott’s Kauai Beach Club and Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club located both on Kauai.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) is a leading lodging company with more than 3,200 lodging properties in 66 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, 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, Maryland, USA, and had approximately 146,000 employees at 2008 year-end. It is recognized by BusinessWeek as one of the 100 best global brands, by FORTUNE® as one of the best companies to work for, and by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as Partner of the Year since 2004. In fiscal year 2008, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of nearly $13 billion. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com. For an interactive online version of Marriott's 2008 Annual Report, which includes a short video message from Chairman and CEO J.W. Marriott, Jr., visit www.marriott.com/investor.

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Editor’s Note: Jpgs of Japan tour and interviews with Ed Hubennette available upon request.

For More Information, Contact:

Bernie Caalim or Noreen Kam
McNeil Wilson Communications
1003 Bishop Street, 9th Floor
Honolulu, HI 96813-6429
(808) 531-0244 phone
(808) 521-7163 fax
E-mail: bernie.caalim@mwc-anthology.com or
noreen.kam@mwc-anthology.com

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