Autograph Collection Continues to Grow in Europe

LONDON, July 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Autograph Collection, Marriott International's (NYSE: MAR) fastest growing brand, today announced that six luxury Boscolo Hotels in Europe will join the collection.  Last year, Marriott International launched Autograph Collection, a group of exceptional independent luxury hotels, each hand-selected for their originality, character and uncommon details. The first four Autograph Collection Hotels in Europe were added in Spain in May of this year, and with the addition of these six Boscolo properties, located in some of Europe's most beautiful cities, Autograph Collection has now grown to 26 properties globally.

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The first four Boscolo Hotels will join Autograph Collection in September 2011, with the remaining two hotels expected to join by January 2012. The first four hotels are:

• Boscolo Palace Roma, Rome, Italy
• Boscolo Venezia, Venice, Italy
• Boscolo Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
• Boscolo Budapest, Budapest, Hungary

In 2012, the following hotels will join the collection:

• Boscolo Exedra Roma, Rome, Italy
• Boscolo Milano, Milan, Italy

"These Boscolo Hotels are an incredible addition to the Autograph Collection," said Amy McPherson, president and managing director for Marriott International in Europe.  "Located in some of the most spectacular cities in the world, each hotel is truly one-of-a-kind.  Autograph Collection is an exceptional opportunity for both Marriott and our hotel partners, as we are now able to offer truly original and independent hotel experiences to our guests and as part of Autograph Collection, our partner hotels are able to tap in to the power of Marriott's sales and reservations engines. We strongly believe that Autograph Collection will continue to be a huge growth platform for us and a key component of our European expansion strategy as we seek to reach 80,000 rooms in Europe by 2015."

Giorgio Boscolo, vice president Boscolo Group added, "We are proud to join the Marriott family and the Autograph Collection, and have great confidence in Marriott's ability to help us gain additional global exposure and reach new markets. We look forward to offering our guests new experiences, embracing the heart of each city with a warm Italian touch."

The new Autograph Collection hotels include:

The vibrant 87-room Boscolo Palace Roma is a rare jewel located on Rome's famed Via Veneto. Designed in the 1920's by Marcello Piacentini, the elegant boutique hotel just completed a top-to-bottom restoration, bringing its historical beauty back to life with modern touches.

In Venice, the 72-room Boscolo Venezia is housed in the historic Palazzo Rizzo Patarol, formerly home to the French embassy. The hotel boasts the largest private park in Venice, which once was host to Vivaldi's violin concerts.  

The Boscolo Prague, a spectacular 152-room hotel in Prague is a masterpiece of art and architecture. Located in Prague's historical centre, the hotel is housed in the former headquarters of the Czech postal service.

Located in the heart of Budapest, the opulent 185-room Boscolo Budapest was built in 1894 and is celebrated for its beautiful and grand New York Cafe, a historical point of gathering of European novelists and artists, unique in its stucco and gold decor.

The 238-room Boscolo Exedra Rome is located on a magnificent piazza within the ancient Roman ruins of the Diocletian Baths and the Basilica degli Angeli designed by Michelangelo. Boasting a rooftop terrace and pool overlooking the eternal city, the hotel is the ultimate in luxury.

Inspired by a fusion of Italian style, art and design, the 154-room Boscolo Milan, the most modern of the collection, is located in the heart of Milan's bustling fashion district and offers sweeping views of the Duomo.

The Autograph Collection is expected to grow to include up to 40 independent hotel properties throughout the United States, Europe, Caribbean and Latin America by the end of the year.

Welcome to the Autograph Collection, an evolving ensemble of strikingly independent luxury hotels. Curated for the curious, each destination has been selected for its bold originality, rich character and uncommon details. From near to far, iconic to historic, the result is a unique array of properties that is nothing less than completely eclectic, nothing short of collectively exceptional. Visit www.autographhotels.com for more information.

Visit Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) for company information. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.

About Boscolo Hotels

Boscolo Hotels operates 22 highly prestigious hotels in the most important European art and business cities. Divided between four and five-star hotels, they are managed respectively under two separate brands: B4 Hotels and Boscolo Hotels. Marked from the beginning by its international mindset and outlook, in recent years Boscolo Hotels has further accelerated its expansion into foreign markets through the acquisition of prestigious sites in the heart of a number of European countries. The Boscolo Hotels are inspired by the Italian principles of elegance, courtesy and trendsetting design in order to spread Italian hospitality around the world. All Boscolo Hotels are unique pearls and are considered ambassadors of the Italian lifestyle.

NOTE:  The statements about the number and joining dates for the new Autograph hotels to be added and the number of rooms Marriott expects to have in Europe by 2015 are "forward looking statements" within the meaning of federal securities laws, not historical facts, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including supply and demand changes for hotel rooms; competitive conditions in the lodging industry; relationships with clients and property owners; the availability of capital to finance hotel growth; and other risk factors identified in Marriott International, Inc.'s most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q; any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by our statements.  These statements are made as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.