JW Marriott Luxury Brand Grows Global Portfolio With New Hotels

BETHESDA, Md., July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Marriott International's (NYSE: MAR) global luxury brand, JW Marriott, welcomes its first hotel in Turkey, the JW Marriott Hotel Ankara and first hotel in North India, the JW Marriott Hotel Chandigarh.  By year-end 2012, JW Marriott plans to open nine additional properties, bringing the total global portfolio to 63 hotels and resorts in 26 countries.

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"We continue to grow at a rapid pace and are excited to add these two exceptional hotels to the JW Marriott brand," said Mitzi Gaskins, vice president, JW Marriott brand management. "The JW Marriott name is reserved for select luxury hotels in key gateway city and resort destinations. Each hotel and resort delivers a warmly authentic, relaxed and elegant environment that is unique to the luxury segment. The majority of our properties are less than 10 years old and we continue to expand the brand into some of the world's premier locations."

JW Marriott Hotel Ankara

The striking 24-story, 413-room luxury hotel, designed in a rich palate of colored glass, is expected to quickly become a towering landmark in Turkey's vibrant capital city. Conveniently located in the heart of the political and business center of Ankara, the JW Marriott Ankara offers easy access from Ankara Esenboga Airport, convention and conference venues, Ankara culture and education centers and archaeological sites.

Guestrooms offer the ultimate in relaxed elegance and luxury including 300-thread-count Turkish cotton linens on the bed, marble baths with deep soaking tubs, separate showers and state-of-the-art technology. The hotel's Royal Griffin Suite is a grand 439 square meters (4,725 sq. ft.) and features a private fitness room, library, Jacuzzi and private dining room with optional butler service.

With more than 4,550 square meters of flexible meeting space, much of which boasts natural light, the JW Marriott Ankara is set to become a premier meetings and events center in the city. A dazzling grand ballroom featuring 1,278 square meters (13,756 sq. ft.) of space with soaring ceilings and magnificent Czech crystal chandeliers is the ultimate location for any wedding or social event. In addition, the hotel's terrace is one of the largest outdoor function spaces in Ankara.

The 3,430 square meter Karma Spa Wellness & Fitness is the hotel's signature spa and fitness facility. Boasting both indoor and outdoor pools, the spa's focal point is its stunning authentic Turkish Hammam. The spa's signature treatment "Kese" is performed on a marble pinth in the Hammam, including an exfoliation treatment applied with silk kese, followed by a relaxing massage using Turkish oils.

Chefs at the JW Marriott Ankara partner with local artisans, organic farmers and sustainable fisheries to deliver authentic cuisine inspired by the region throughout the hotel's bars and restaurants. JW Steakhouse, the signature steakhouse of JW Marriott Hotels with locations in London, Dubai and Bucharest, will offer prime steaks, fresh seafood and carefully selected wine through JW Marriott's Wine Ambassador program. For authentic Turkish fare, guests can enjoy Fires & Flavors, serving both traditional Turkish and International cuisine. To take in the views of the stunning hills of Ankara, the Sky Vue Lounge and Terrace on the hotel's 22nd floor is an upscale bar featuring nightly modern jazz and serving fine spirits and specialty beers, handcrafted fresh juice cocktails and wines from around the world.  For a more casual experience, the hotel offers Velocity Sports & Entertainment, a high-adrenaline sports bar.

JW Marriott Chandigarh

This luxury 5-star hotel is designed with an aesthetic reflective of the unique lifestyle of "The City Beautiful" and is conceptualized on the basis of the five elements of nature and is the epitome of magnificence. Designers Wilson Associates from Singapore and Karen Kim collaborated to create a masterpiece which is both contemporary and yet bears the signs of aesthetic North Indian architecture, giving it a wonderful cultural reference and significance and a true sense of place.

The JW Marriott Chandigarh offers an array of fine dining options including authentic cuisines from around the world. Saffron is a fine dining Indian restaurant, while The Cafe@JW will host a buffet featuring world cuisine, and Oregano will enchant guests with authentic Italian delicacies. Chandigarh Baking Co (Deli and Patisserie) is an adaptation of a classic pastry shop with an attractive array of food and beverages.  The hotel boasts a balance of luxury and wellness with its offering of world-class fitness facilities and a Quan Spa.

Featuring the most spacious accommodation, the 160 guest rooms, 4 suites and Presidential Suite are equipped with a host of luxurious features. The state-of-the-art banqueting facilities in the hotel offer a spacious 16,500 sq ft of indoor and outdoor function area.  The Grand Ballroom with a majestic ceiling height of more than six meters (over 19 ft.) and stylish design will be the venue for the royal and elegant weddings in Punjab.

About JW Marriott - JW Marriott is part of Marriott International's luxury portfolio and consists of exceptional properties in gateway cities and distinctive resort locations around the world. www.jwmarriotthotels.com These elegant hotels and resorts cater to today's sophisticated, self-assured travelers, offering the quiet luxury they seek in a warmly authentic, relaxed atmosphere lacking in pretense. JW Marriott properties artfully provide highly crafted, anticipatory experiences that are reflective of their locale so that their guests have the time to focus on what is most important to them. Currently, there are 54 JW Marriott hotels in 23 countries; by 2014 we expect the portfolio will encompass 73 properties in 28 countries.

Scheduled openings include:

2011

• Baku – Azerbaijan
• India – Bangalore

2012

• Maldives – Gaakoshibee
• India – Gurgaon, Chennai, New Delhi International Airport
• Peru – Cusco
• Vietnam – Hanoi
• UAE – Dubai Marquis

2013

• South Korea – Seoul Dongdaemun Plaza

Note on forward-looking statements: This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws, including statements concerning the number of lodging properties we expect to add in the future, the locations of those properties, the year in which particular properties will open, and similar statements concerning anticipated future events and expectations that are not historical facts. We caution you that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including those we identify below and other risk factors that we identify in Marriott International, Inc.'s most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q. These risks include changes in market conditions; the continuation and pace of the economic recovery; supply and demand changes for hotel rooms; competitive conditions in the lodging industry; relationships with clients and property owners; and the availability of capital to finance hotel growth and refurbishment. Any of these factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations we express or imply in this press release. We make these forward-looking statements as of the date of this press release, and undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.