WASHINGTON - May 22, 2002 - Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) Chairman and CEO J.W. “Bill” Marriott, Jr. will join Washington, D.C., civic officials today to honor 10 area public elementary school students with college scholarships. While Bill Marriott gives out the “10 Who Are 10” awards at the JW Marriott Hotel in D.C., thousands of fellow associates around the world will celebrate Marriott’s 75th anniversary by participating in the company’s annual Spirit To Serve Our Communities Day.

Marriott International began in Washington, D.C., in 1927 as a nine-seat root beer stand selling mugs of A&W for a nickel. Today, it is the leading global hospitality company with over 2,600 business units in 65 countries and more than 142,000 employees.

Throughout its 75-year history, Marriott’s “Spirit to Serve” philosophy has been at the core of its culture. Spirit To Serve Our Communities Day, held during the company’s annual associate appreciation week, is an extension of Marriott’s year-round commitment to the neighborhoods and communities where it does business.

“Our 75th birthday is a time to pause and reflect - a time to thank our employees, guests, investors, hotel owners and franchisees, and communities who have made this milestone possible. Great companies are nothing more than great people and loyal customers,” said Bill Marriott.

Marriott associates at hundreds of hotels today are delivering needed community services:

á Nearly 1,500 Marriott associates in Washington, D.C. - the largest corporate volunteer group in the National Capital area - will take part in 30 different volunteer activities, including preparing food for people living with HIV/AIDs and cancer, and helping disabled children create art projects á In Chicago, associates will build a house with Habitat for Humanity á In Cincinnati, associates will serve meals at the Kids Cafe of Cincinnati á In Orange County, 200 associates will hold a Bowl-a-thon to raise funds for Children’s Miracle Network á In Minneapolis, associates will work with Habitat for Humanity on a house-painting project á In Nashville, associates will support the Second Harvest Food Bank á In St. Louis, associates will partner with Faith House to refurbish a children’s playhouse á In Dubai, associates will lend support to the Al Baraha hospital by visiting patients and donating toys and books.

á In Hong Kong, associates will help the Cheshire Home, a facility that provides extended care to people with physical disabilities and chronic illnesses á Marriott’s “Spirit To Serve Our Communities” program generates approximately $6 million annually in donations and fund-raising activities, and focuses on four major areas: career opportunities, family services, community partnerships and associate involvement. In addition to Spirit To Serve Our Communities Day, other Marriott initiatives include: á Partnership with America’s Promise to introduce 25,000 students to the hospitality industry via job shadowing and internship experiences á Bridges… from school to work trains and encourages businesses to employ high school students with disabilities á Career Opportunities Fund offers $100,000 in grants annually to students and at-risk youth preparing for careers in hospitality á Family Services Fund provides $100,000 in grants annually to organizations that provide child-care, legal assistance, literacy training and other work/life services

á Marriott Pride/Children’s Miracle Network enables associates to raise funds ($3 million annually) for more than 170 hospitals for children in the United States and Canada á Second Harvest provides surplus food from Marriott hotels to 185 food banks á Sharing With Our Communities donates home furnishing to homeless shelters and families transitioning to independent living á Suite Holidays donates free suites to organizations that help others facing misfortune between Thanksgiving and New Year’s holidays á Support for United Way to provide approximately $1.4 million in annual contributions from the company and associates.

——-