Marriott International's Luxury Brands lead In J.D. Power Rankings

BETHESDA, Md., July 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Marriott International, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:MAR) luxury brands, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC and JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts, were once again recognized by travelers for high guest satisfaction in the J.D. Power 2015 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has been named the #1 luxury brand for the seventh year and currently has the highest ranking achieved to-date by any luxury brand. JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts moved-up 23 points in the ranking and was awarded third place well ahead of other notable luxury brands. Just recently, the JW Marriott brand celebrated its first resort in Europe, the 250-room JW Marriott Resort & Spa in Venice, Italy on the private island of Isola delle Rosa.

"We are thrilled that our luxury brands are setting the standard for discerning travelers around the world. Our guest experience is crucial to our continued success and leadership position," says Mitzi Gaskins, Vice President, Luxury Brand Management, Marriott International. "To receive such prestigious recognition is a testament to the hard work and genuine care and dedication of our associates around the world. We are extremely proud of them all."

The J.D. Power study, now in its 17th year, measures overall hotel guest satisfaction across seven hotel segments including luxury, upper upscale, upscale, upper midscale, midscale, economy/budget and extended stay. It looks closely at guest engagement and satisfaction over seven guest touch points, including the reservation process, check-in/check-out efficiency, guest-room accommodations, food and beverage, costs/fees, hotel services and facilities. The report found that when hotel staff anticipates the services desired and prevents problems, guests' experiences were significantly improved.

Marriott International's luxury portfolio currently includes The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, BVLGARI Hotels & Resorts, EDITION Hotels, JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts and Ritz-Carlton Reserve. With over 170 luxury hotels and resorts in Marriott International's worldwide portfolio, the company's award-winning luxury brands are the industry's leading global portfolio of luxury hotels. Marriott International plans to grow to more than 200 world-class properties by the end of 2016.

J.D. Power is a global marketing information services company providing performance improvement, social media and customer satisfaction insights and solutions. The company's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., USA, J.D. Power has offices in North/South America, Europe and Asia Pacific. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings and more, visit www.JDPower.com. J.D. Power is a business unit of McGraw Hill Financial.

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a leading global lodging company based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.

Note on Forward-Looking Statements: The statements about the expected future growth of Marriott International's luxury brands 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.

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SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.

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