Marriott International Inks Deal To Debut Tribute Portfolio™ In Latin America

BETHESDA, Md., Nov. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) today announced the upcoming debut of its aspirational independent hotels and resorts brand, Tribute Portfolio, in Latin America. By December 2016, the brand will add two independent hotels to its portfolio in Argentina's most sought-after regions. Arelauquen Lodge, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel, will be debut in Patagonia, near the world's end, with vast landscapes of lakes and mountains, while Auberge du Vin, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel, will be located in the heart of Argentina's wine country, where some of the world's best vino is produced. The signing of these properties is a significant step in the brand's expansion, not only reflecting the growing global traveler demand for independent travel experiences around the world, but also serving as a direct response to its loyalty reward members' desires for more hotel options in both adventure travel and wine country destinations.

"The introduction of Tribute Portfolio in the important and dynamic travel market of Argentina this year is an incredible milestone for the brand," said Tim Sheldon, President of Caribbean and Latin America for Marriott International, Inc. "With these signings in the growing tourism regions of Patagonia and Mendoza, Marriott continues to grow aggressively in the Latin America region, expanding our footprint and providing Tribute Portfolio guests the opportunity to Stay Independent, while still staying in the family."

Auberge du Vin, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel

Situated in the heart of the Uco Valley, where many of Argentina's local and independent vineyards are located, Auberge du Vin, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel, is a modern retreat and vineyard located 1,400 meters above sea level. The vineyards surrounding the property yield celebrated wines, ranging from Malbec to Pinot Noir, that have become international favorites. The property is part of Tupungato Winelands, a country club development comprised of private residences, private vineyards, a polo field and golf course in the foothills of the Andes Mountains.

Auberge du Vin has 29 guestrooms that allow travelers to take in the beauty of the terrain and the local architecture.  In-room massage services are available to all guests on-demand, and the hotel's relaxing outdoor and indoor pools overlook the majestic Andes mountains. Guests can enjoy access to Tupungato golf course and polo fields, the hotel's fully-equipped fitness center, as well as a variety of meeting rooms. Epic, the hotel's full-service restaurant, is renowned as one of the best dining experiences in the region and features dishes created by its Chef Julian Del Pino that are inspired by regional ingredients, and wines produced in the vineyard.

Approximately 50 miles away from the city of Mendoza, the area is served by a regional airport that operates flights providing easy access to and from several cities within Argentina as well as to Santiago, Chile.

Arelauquen Lodge, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel

Arelauquen Lodge, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel, is located in Patagonia's San Carlos de Bariloche, next to the majestic Lake Nahuel Huapi and within the breathtaking Nahuel Huapi National Park. Almost at the world's end, Patagonia's Bariloche is a resort famous for its hiking, trekking and mountaineering facilities, and is the only city with an international airport in the region.

Arelauquen Lodge is part of the extensive Arelauquen Golf and Country Club, and sits on a natural reserve, which spans over 550 hectares of picturesque views. Featuring 28 stylishly-appointed rooms, guests can soak in the striking scenery while enjoying all of the comforts of premium amenities with an independent spirit offered throughout the property.  Guests of the hotel can revel in the splendid offerings of the Arelauquen Golf and Country Club, which include an 18-hole golf course, two polo fields, an equestrian center, tennis and squash courts, trekking trails and a yacht club at the Gutierrez Lake. Arelauquen Lodge also features the restaurant  Epic by Chef Julian Del Pino.

"We are incredibly thrilled to be a part of Tribute Portfolio and Marriott International," said Eddie Rubio, CEO of Grupo EMR. "Tribute Portfolio gives us a tremendous platform to share our unique lifestyle properties with Marriott International's loyalty members, while providing the highest level of customer service and standards Marriott guest have come to expect."

A First in Latin America

From boutique resorts to urban destination properties, Tribute Portfolio gives guests access to outstanding upper upscale hotels with an independent spirit, all while benefitting from Marriott International's loyalty programs. Built and fueled by consumer preferences, Tribute Portfolio carves out its distinction in the category through its close collaboration with the rewards community.

"The independent hotel segment is a growing area of opportunity in Latin America, where there is extraordinary demand for distinct experiences from independent-minded travelers," said Victor Vazquez, Vice-president of Development and Acquisitions for Latin America, Marriott International, Inc.  "We're   confident that the region will be a key driver of the brand's growth."

Tribute Portfolio debuted in April 2015 with its first hotel, the Royal Palm South Beach Miami, and has since opened ten additional properties across North America, Europe and Asia, including Great Northern Hotel in London, UK; The Kiroro Resort in Hokkaido, Japan; The Hermitage in Jakarta, Indonesia; the SLS Las Vegas in Las Vegas, NV; The Riviera Palm Springs in Palm Springs, CA; Avenue of the Arts in Costa Mesa, CA; Hotel Colonnade Coral Gables in Coral Gables, FL; La Posada de Santa Fe in Santa Fe, NM; and Le Dokhan's and Le Metropolitan, both in Paris.

In addition to those hotels announced today, the brand will soon open new hotels in Asheville, NC; Charleston, SC;; Denver, CO; Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Houston, TX; Jalan Besar, Singapore; Nashville, TN; San Diego, CA; Santa Fe, NM; Savannah, GA; Shanghai, China; St. Louis, MO; Tampa, Florida; Quebec City, Canada; and Ubud, Bali. Tribute Portfolio enables owners of distinct properties to maintain their independent spirit, while benefiting from Marriott's powerful distribution, loyalty and sales platforms.

About Tribute Portfolio

Launched in April 2015, Tribute Portfolio is a collection of exceptional independent hotels around the globe, offering guests and owners the ability to "Stay Independent." From boutique resorts to urban destination properties, guests can enjoy access to outstanding upper-upscale hotels with an indie spirit while benefitting from Marriott International's award-winning loyalty programs. For more information on Tribute Portfolio, please visit www.tributeportfolio.com. Follow along to Stay Independent: @TributePortfolio on Instagram, @TributePRTFLO on Twitter,  tumblr.com/TributePortfolio and www.facebook.com/TributePortfolio.

About Marriott International, Inc.

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is the world's largest hotel company based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, with more than 5,700 properties in over 110 countries. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts. The company's 30 leading brands include: Bulgari Hotels and Resorts®, The Ritz-Carlton® and The Ritz-Carlton Reserve®, St. Regis®, W®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, The Luxury Collection®, Marriott Hotels®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Renaissance® Hotels, Sheraton®, Delta Hotels by Marriott^SM, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Tribute Portfolio™, Design Hotels™, Gaylord Hotels®, Courtyard®, Four Points® by Sheraton, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, Residence Inn®, TownePlace Suites®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Aloft®, Element®, Moxy Hotels®, and Protea Hotels by Marriott®. The company also operates award-winning loyalty programs: Marriott Rewards®, which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest®. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com and @MarriottIntl.

Note on forward-looking statements: This communication contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws, including statements about the benefits of the transaction, including expected synergies and enhanced revenue opportunities for the combined company, 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 the "Risks Related to the Starwood Combination" and other risk factors that we identify in our most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Any of these factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations we express or imply in this communication. We make these forward-looking statements as of the date of this communication, 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.

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