Green Up Your Next Vacation at Marriott Hotels

BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 1  /PRNewswire/ -- Taking care of the planet we all share is no easy feat, but Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) - one of the world's leading lodging companies - is making it easier for guests at its more-than 3,000 hotels worldwide to offset their carbon footprints.

Through Marriott's Spirit to Preserve, a five-point environmental strategy, the company has developed a carbon offset program available in all of its hotels. This unique initiative allows guests to offset the carbon footprint of their hotel stay for as little as $10, or $1 per day, per room for up to 10 days. The funds raised from this program go to help protect the Juma rainforest reserve in the State of Amazonas, Brazil.

Through an agreement with the Amazonas Sustainable Foundation, Marriott and its hotels' guests are protecting 1.4 million acres of pristine rainforest in The Juma Sustainable Development Reserve. Without this intervention, up to 62 percent of the Juma rainforest would be destroyed by 2050 due to illegal deforestation, resulting in 4 million tons of carbon emissions in the first 10 years alone. TUV SUD, an independent accredited environmental auditing firm, has validated the project, awarding it "gold status" under the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standards.

In addition to this protecting the rainforest, Marriott's Spirit to Preserve program also includes environmental initiatives focused on:

  --  Water, waste & energy reduction
  --  Developing greener solutions throughout the supply chain
  --  Building green hotels & upgrading current hotels to meet stricter
      environmental standards

  --  Educating & engaging employees and guests to support the environment
      through their everyday actions



Marriott has been recognized for its environmental leadership in the hotel industry by several groups, including Ceres, an alliance of investors and environmentalists; the non-profit organization ClimateCounts.org; and Travel + Leisure magazine. For additional information about Marriott hotels, visit http://www.marriott.com/default.mi, and for specific information about the Spirit to Preserve program, visit http://www.marriott.com/marriott.mi?page=environmentalInitiatives.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) is a leading lodging company with more than 3,200 lodging properties in 66 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, The Ritz-Carlton Destination 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 Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

  CONTACT:
  Jeff Gold
  [phone]
  

DATASOURCE: Marriott International, Inc.



CONTACT:  Jeff Gold, [phone], 



Web Site:  http://www.marriott.com/default.mi 

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