Marriott International Celebrates Millionth Mobile Check-In with a Sweepstakes across its Portfolio of Brands

BETHESDA, Md., April 2, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate its millionth mobile check-in, Marriott International (NASDAQ: MAR) is announcing a sweepstakes across its portfolio of brands. From April 2nd to December 31st, 2015, Marriott Rewards members who check-in using the Marriott mobile app before their stay will be automatically entered* to win a share of millions of Marriott Rewards points. To enter, guests must be a Marriott Rewards or Ritz Carlton Rewards member and use the Marriott Mobile app to check-in for a stay at over 3,000 Marriott brand properties in the US, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands that offers mobile check-in.

To kick off the sweepstakes, Marriott partnered with What's Trending founder and host Shira Lazar and Jeana Smith, founder of Prank vs. Prank to give the millionth mobile check-in guest the surprise of a lifetime. Marriott Rewards member Hunter Swift and his wife, Tina, checked in to the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE and received a surprise party complete with a DJ, bellhop acrobats, dancers, and the gift of one million Marriott Rewards points. Click here to watch the celebration.

For more information about how to enter this sweepstakes visit: Mobileapp.marriott.com/sweepstakes. In the coming months, a similar sweepstakes promotion will launch in more countries.

"We are very thrilled that mobile check-in has proven to be so wildly popular and wanted to show our appreciation by celebrating Hunter and Tina as the millionth mobile check-in guests," said Jennifer Utz, vice president, buzz marketing & partnerships, Marriott International. "We are excited to continue expanding this sweepstakes to other countries around the world, to give those guests a chance to win their share of Marriott Rewards points when they use mobile check-in."

In addition to the kickoff, Marriott teamed with the Emmy-nominated, multi-platform internet and pop culture media brand What's Trending and host Shira Lazar to produce five additional What's Trending digital videos, which are on www.YouTube.com/Marriott and feature a cross-range of YouTube influencers taking a tongue-in-cheek approach to capturing their personal journeys thanks to mobile check-in. Part of the newly formed Marriott global content studio, the series features five major YouTube stars (Jeana Smith from PrankVsPrank; Louis Cole from FunForLouis; Tom from TheSyndicateProject; Steve Zaragoza from Sourcefed; and Meghan Camarena from Strawburry17) as they live out their wildest travel dreams with unique experiences. From paintball to martial arts and piloting a helicopter, the series gives travelers the chance to join in the action through the eyes of these online stars.

With the Marriott Mobile App, check-in is simple. Guests can check-in after 4 pm the day before their arrival and will receive an automatic notification when their room is ready. The mobile check-in feature is part of the free and newly updated Marriott Mobile App available in the Apple iTunes Store and Google Play. For more information and to download the app go to: http://mobileapp.marriott.com/.

*See Official Rules for all details regarding eligibility and how to enter.

ABOUT WHAT'S TRENDING:
With more than 67 million views on YouTube, What's Trending is the Primetime Emmy-nominated center of the online universe, bringing audiences the hottest videos, trends, and personalities on YouTube and social media everyday. Co-founder Shira Lazar and the biggest online stars entertain and inform audiences on every platform, everyday, with the trends that have the world buzzing. 

ABOUT MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL:
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a leading lodging company based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, with properties in 79 countries and territories and reported revenues of nearly $13 billion in fiscal year 2013.  The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 18 brands. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit http://news.marriott.com.

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SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.