New AC Hotels by Marriott Brand Formally Launches Joint Venture; Aims for Aggressive Growth in Europe and Latin America

MADRID and BETHESDA, Maryland, January 20, 2011 - Today the Spanish hotel group AC Hotels and Marriott International, Inc.
(NYSE: MAR) formally announced their joint venture to manage and franchise a
new lodging co-brand across Europe and Latin America - "AC Hotels by
Marriott."

(Logo: photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110120/PH32819LOGO )

At launch, over 90 existing AC Hotels in Spain, Italy and Portugal will
be re-branded as AC Hotels by Marriott and enter into long term management or
franchise agreements with the joint venture.

Antonio Catalan, chairman and founder of AC Hotels said, "We are thrilled
to be partnering with Marriott. The new AC Hotels by Marriott co-brand
combines the strengths of both AC Hotels and Marriott International–AC
Hotels' exceptional product and expertise and the power of Marriott's
engines, global footprint and the power of its development organization. We
see tremendous growth potential for AC Hotels by Marriott and will be
aggressively pursuing development opportunities throughout Europe and Latin
America."

Amy McPherson, president and managing director of Marriott International
in Europe, said, "Marriott could not ask for a better partner than the AC
Hotels team. Antonio Catalan is an experienced, dynamic partner who
understands this market and delivers an exceptional product, perfectly suited
for the European lifestyle. We are thrilled with this opportunity to
dramatically grow our presence in Spain, the 4th largest source market in
Europe, and deliver a great new lifestyle product to our global customer."

The 9,100-room AC Hotels by Marriott venture is a significant driver of
Marriott's European growth strategy. At launch, it will represent almost a
quarter of the progress toward the company's goal of doubling its portfolio
in Europe over five years to 80,000 rooms.

"AC Hotels by Marriott" will incorporate the concept and business model
of AC Hotels' urban lifestyle hotel product, characterized by a unique blend
of quality, comfort, design and technology, with Marriott International's
global systems, distribution, and sales platforms, particularly Marriott
Rewards, one of the world's largest hospitality loyalty programs with 33
million members. The combination will permit Marriott's customers access
under the Marriott Rewards program to a portfolio of Spain's leading business
and urban-leisure hotels, enable AC's guests to earn Marriott Rewards points
for travel at Marriott branded hotels around the world, and provide both
companies with a platform for future growth.

The partners anticipate that the venture will close in the first quarter
of 2011, after receipt of necessary consents and other remaining conditions
have been satisfied. Starting May 2011, they expect that all AC Hotels by
Marriott hotels will be bookable on Marriott.com. Marriott.com is the lodging
industry's most comprehensive website and the 7th largest online consumer
retail site in the world.

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 AC Hotels

Founded in 1998 by Antonio Catalan, AC Hotels currently has a portfolio
of over 90 hotels in ownership, leasing or management, in Spain, Italy and
Portugal, encompassing more than 9,500 rooms and approximately 2800
employees. Among other accolades, the chain has been awarded with the Prince
of Asturias Award for Business Excellence, Gran Hotel named it the best
national hotel company in 2009 and has been chosen by the main business
newspaper Expansion as the best Spanish hotel company to work. For more
information please www.ac-hotels.com

Note: This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of United States federal securities laws, including statements about
the expected timing for closing and the availability of booking on
Marriott.com, the joint venture's future operations, the size and geographic
distribution of the future AC Hotels by Marriott hotel portfolio, and similar
references to anticipated future events or 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 the ability of the parties to finalize definitive transaction
documents, or any delay in or failure to obtain any necessary consent; any
which could delay or prevent formation of the joint venture or cause "AC
Hotels by Marriott" to operate differently than as described in this press
release. These statements are made as of January 20, 2011, and the parties
undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking
statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.

Tom Marder, +1-301-380-2553, Thomas.marder at marriott.com, or Elizabeth Caminiti, +44-20-7012-7359, Elizabeth.caminiti at marriott.com