Marriott Names Edward Ryan Executive Vice President and General Counsel

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Marriott International, Inc. announced today that Edward A. Ryan has been promoted to executive vice president and general counsel for the company. He succeeds Joseph Ryan (no relation) who will retire at the end of the year. Ed Ryan was also named a senior executive officer, and will report to J.W. Marriott, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer.

Ed Ryan joined Marriott International in 1996 and has overseen all new management agreements and real estate development worldwide for Marriott's portfolio of full service, select service and extended stay hotels. Most recently, Ryan had also assumed responsibility for all corporate transactions and corporate governance.

"Ed Ryan has been a key contributor to Marriott's global growth and is highly respected in the field for his industry leadership," said Mr. Marriott. "Ed's outstanding legal grounding and tested judgment make him exactly the right general counsel for the company as we accelerate our growth."

We are also particularly pleased to have Ed Ryan assume the responsibilities of general counsel after working so closely with Joe Ryan, who was especially capable and effective. As general counsel, Joe superbly led our legal team and guided top management as Marriott grew dramatically over the past ten years into the global company of today. We wish Joe and his family great happiness and all the best," added Mr. Marriott.

Prior to joining Marriott, Ed Ryan engaged in private practice in Washington, D.C., first with the firm of Crowell & Moring from 1978 to 1984, and then with Hogan & Hartson from 1984 to 1996, where he was made partner in 1989.

Ryan is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, receiving his A.B. summa cum laude in 1975 and his J.D. cum laude in 1978. While attending law school, he was associate editor of the Law Review.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. 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 International, Horizons, 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 and golf courses. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and had approximately 143,000 employees at 2005 year-end. It is ranked as the lodging industry's most admired company and one of the best places to work for by FORTUNE(R). The company is also a 2006 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR(R) Partner. In fiscal year 2005, Marriott International reported sales from continuing rations of $11.6 billion. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at http://www.marriott.com/.