3.22.2007 - 06:00am ET

(CSRwire) WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 22, 2007 – Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) is on track to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by nearly one-fifth over a ten year period from 2000 to 2010 – approaching one million tons of climate warming gases, or the equivalent of taking nearly 140,000 cars off the roads*. This industry leading effort is part of a comprehensive global campaign to reduce Marriott’s environmental footprint and save energy costs.

In April, all 2,800 hotels in nearly 70 countries will also help Marriott celebrate Environmental Awareness Month, marking the company’s biggest effort to promote eco-friendly practices on the road, at work, at home and in the community. The month-long drive enlists Marriott customers, associates and business partners in a variety of projects to save, recycle and reuse, including:

Clean Up the World – In partnership with Clean Up the World, a global green volunteer organization, Marriott hotels will join forces on a variety of local clean-up projects including the River Thames in London, the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., San Francisco Bay in California and Taba Heights beach in Egypt. Other improvement projects include parks, beaches and wildlife preservation. For information on Clean Up the World, visit www.cleanuptheworld.org.

True Green - Marriott will promote a new book by Clean Up the World's Co-founder, Kim McKay, and Director, Jenny Bonnin. It features 100 everyday ways to contribute to a healthier planet. On Earth Day, April 22, Marriott will offer its guests a free bookmark listing eco-friendly travel tips.

Global Tree Planting – Associates will plant 3,000 trees at hotels around the world, including 80 trees at Marriott's headquarters in celebration of the company's 80th anniversary. Tree planting is a key way to offset carbon emissions - one tree can remove approximately one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.

Green Products Fair – Marriott leverages partnerships with global suppliers to promote development and use of green products in the lodging industry. The company will sponsor a Green Fair for associates on April 20 at Marriott's headquarters with companies such as Ecolab, TruGreen Landscaping and Starbucks.

Recycling – Marriott will launch a pilot program at 30 hotels to measure, standardize and expand recycling companywide. Currently, more than 96 percent of Marriott hotels around the world actively recycle. In 2006, Marriott headquarters recycled more than half of its solid waste.

Eco Awareness – Throughout April, Marriott customers will have the opportunity to win the ultimate "Eco-cation" to Costa Rica. Customers will have a chance to enter a video to showcase how they are cleaning up the world and learn more about Marriott's environmental programs via a YouTube video. Information on Marriott's recognition of Environmental Awareness Month will also be available on Marriott.com and Bill Marriott's blog.

Marriott’s Long-Standing Commitment to the Environment

Marriott has been committed to the environment for 20 years and is substantially reducing greenhouse gases and improving the environment. Programs making a difference include:

Launched Marriott Environmentally Conscious Hospitality Operations (ECHO) in 1994 - an award-winning program that focuses on water and energy conservation, clean air, "reduce-reuse-recycle" waste management, wildlife preservation and neighborhood cleanups.

Marriott International is also a sponsor of Green Hotelier magazine and a founding member of the Tourism Partnership, a UK-based global industry group promoting responsible and environmentally conscious tourism.

Marriott International has been recognized as the Sustained Excellence Award winner after receiving the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for Excellence in Energy Management for the past two years. Additionally, Marriott was awarded more ENERGY STAR labels (160) than any other hotel company and has plans to certify eighty-five additional hotels by year-end.

For more "green" news and Marriott's ongoing commitment to conserve and preserve, visit the Environmental Stewardship page on marriott.com.

* Marriott calculation based on published EPA data.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE: MAR) is a leading lodging company with more than 2,800 lodging properties in the United States and 67 other countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Bulgari brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club, Horizons by Marriott Vacation Club, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Grand Residences by Marriott brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and had approximately 151,000 employees at 2006 year-end. It is ranked as the lodging industry's most admired company and one of the best places to work for by FORTUNE®. The company is also a 2006 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR® Partner. In fiscal year 2006, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $12.2 billion. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com.

For more information please contact:

Dasha Ross
301/380-7770

For more CSR news and information from this organization:

Corporate Social Responsibility Profile for Marriott International, Inc.

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