5.24.2007 - 11:23am ET

(CSRwire) WASHINGTON, D.C. – May 23, 2007 – Marriott International, Inc. (MAR: NYSE) has been named one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" by Ethisphere Magazine, a national publication dedicated to illuminating the important correlation between ethics and profit. The elite list of companies was recognized for their strong leadership in ethics and compliance, advancement of industry discourse on social and ethical issues, and positive engagement in the communities in which they operate.

"Our commitment to high ethical standards starts at the top and every day we challenge our associates to uphold that commitment to each other, our shareholders, our guests, our business partners and our surrounding communities," said John Geller, chief audit executive for Marriott International. "We are honored to be recognized as one of the best."

Ethisphere Magazine has a circulation of 65,000 global board members, CEOs, general counsel, chief ethics and compliance officers and institutional investors. It offers insights into gaining market share and creating sustainable competitive advantage through ethical business practices and corporate citizenship.

The editors of the magazine chose fewer than 100 companies from several thousand organizations that they analyzed over a six-month period. "This was a rigorous process that identified a select group of companies that were unequalled in their industries for their commitment to ethical leadership and corporate social responsibility. These organizations go beyond making statements about doing business ethically; they translate those words into action," said Alex Brigham, executive editor of Ethisphere Magazine.

The process included reviewing companies’ codes of ethics, litigation and regulatory infraction histories; evaluating investment in innovation and sustainable business practices; looking at companies’ activities to improve corporate citizenship; studying nominations from senior executives, industry peers, suppliers and customers; and working with consumer action groups for feedback and rating.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE: MAR) is a leading lodging company with nearly 2,900 lodging properties in the United States and 67 other countries and territories across 18 lodging and vacation resort ownership brands. 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.

About the Ethisphere Council
The Ethisphere Council was created in 2006 by Corpedia, a leader in risk assessment and eLearning for ethics and compliance, the Practising Law Institute, a non-profit organization committed to enhancing the professionalism of attorneys and others and LexisNexis, a leading provider of comprehensive information and business solutions; and Formed with support from such leading corporations as Deutsche Telekom, Time Warner, Dresser Industries, Avaya and Kraft, the council is dedicated to the research, creation, and sharing of best practices in ethics, compliance, and corporate governance among its membership companies. It also focuses on the development and advancement of its members through increased efficiency, innovation, tools, mentoring, advice, and unique career opportunities. More information on membership can be found at www.ethisphere.com.

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