WASHINGTON - June 16, 2003 - Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) is scheduled to open the 126-room Courtyard by Marriott in Columbus, Ohio on June 16, 2003. Located at 3900 Morse Crossing, the Courtyard Columbus Easton will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned by Columbus Easton Hotels III, LLC of Columbus, Ohio and managed by Olshan Hotel Management of Marcos Island, Fla.
Located at Easton Town Center, the hotel is just 10 minutes from Port Columbus Airport and 15 minutes from downtown Columbus. The Courtyard Columbus Easton offers guests convenient access to Nationwide Arena, Ohio State University, and Columbus State Fairgrounds. Rates begin at $119 to $129 per night.

“At Courtyard, we research and test our designs to provide for comfort and functionality,” said Courtyard Brand Vice President Mike Hutter. “We’ve become America’s leading select-service hotel brand by listening to our customers and giving them what they want at a rate below traditional full-service hotels.”
Meeting the evolving needs of the traveler, Courtyard has redesigned its public space. The new concept includes, a business library featuring individual workstations with high-speed data ports and ergonomic chairs; a pantry-style, 24-hour “grab and go” food and beverage area; and a lounge area where guests can work, meet and dine in a relaxing setting.
The six-story hotel offers two meeting rooms with 1,085 square feet of meeting space to accommodate small meetings and functions of up to 25 people. Other guest facilities and services include the Courtyard Café restaurant, serving breakfast, an indoor swimming pool with whirlpool spa, exercise room, an airport shuttle, complimentary onsite parking, guest laundry and faxing/copying.
Courtyard guest rooms feature either a king-size bed or two queen-size beds, a seating area with sofa bed or oversized chair, a large, well-lit work desk and two telephones equipped with data ports. Other in-room amenities include coffee maker, hair dryer, iron with ironing board, and cable television with a free premium movie channel.
Courtyard by Marriott is the leading select-service hotel brand in the United States, providing guests with a combination of casual comfort and timesaving services. Courtyard hotels feature large functional guest rooms and are conveniently situated where people travel. Locations range from airports and office parks to downtown areas and recreational destinations. Several locations feature revitalized historical buildings. Courtyard has more than 550 hotels worldwide, including properties in the U.K., Germany and China. Courtyard participates in the company’s award-winning Marriott Rewards® frequent guest program. Members earn their choice of points toward free vacations or frequent flyer mileage for dollars spent at more than 2,300 Marriott hotels worldwide.

For more information or reservations, call the Courtyard Columbus Easton hotel directly at 614-416-8000, call the Courtyard toll-free number at 800-321-2211, contact a travel agent or visit the web site at www.courtyard.com.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE:MAR) is a leading worldwide hospitality company with nearly 2,600 lodging properties in the United States and 66 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 Ramada International brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club International, Horizons, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Marriott Grand Residence Club brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., has approximately 129,000 employees, and was ranked as the lodging industry`s most admired company and one of the best places to work for by FORTUNE®. For more information or reservations, please visit the web site at www.marriott.com.
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