WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sept. 24, 2002 - For the 12th year, Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) has been named by Working Mother magazine as one of the “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers.” Working Mother magazine spotlights outstanding workplaces for women and tracks family-friendly workplace trends.

Working Mother selects the “100 Best Companies” based on five criteria: availability of childcare, leave for new parents, flexible work arrangements, work-life benefits, and opportunities for women. Editors also consider a range of additional company benefits, including availability of time off to care for sick kids, mentoring programs and extras, such as
onsite fitness facilities.
“Marriott recognizes the importance of attracting and retaining the best talent among working mothers while keeping its competitive edge in the hospitality industry. We are very pleased to be recognized again by Working Mother magazine for our company’s initiatives to provide opportunities for working mothers,” said Donna Klein, vice president of diversity and workplace effectiveness for Marriott International.
Marriott`s work-life initiatives were introduced in 1990 to help Marriott associates pursue careers while maintaining their family lives. Marriott was one of the first companies to assist employees with work-family challenges. The company pioneered programs specifically designed for its lower-income associates, along with providing traditional family-friendly programs, including financial support through family care spending accounts and flexible work time policies.
One of Marriott`s most innovative work-life programs is the Marriott Associate Resource Line, which provides confidential counseling through a one-stop resource that can address a wide range of personal issues. The nationwide toll-free Associate Resource Line, staffed by professional social workers, is available in more than 100 languages to all Marriott associates.

Additional programs include, childcare discounts; education and training for associates;
an onsite child development center; referral services for child, elder and family care issues; and
resources for the company`s low-income associates.
The company has been widely recognized by industry leaders and consistently appears on listings of outstanding places to work, including Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For,” Washingtonian’s “Great Places to Work,” and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s (NAACP) annual lodging industry report card. Marriott is also a recipient of the 2002 Catalyst Award for its demonstrated success in advancing women’s leadership in the workplace.

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