WASHINGTON - May 1, 2002 - Ramada International Hotels & Resorts, a division of Marriott International (NYSE:MAR), announced that they will add a third property in Italy with the conversion of a hotel in Occhiobello to the Ramada Hotel Occhiobello under a management agreement with Savonarola Gestioni S.A.S. Di Piccinini Alessandro & Co.

This hotel will be the first managed property added to the Ramada International portfolio since its acquisition by Marriott International. “We see management opportunities as complimenting our franchise development strategy by providing exemplary hotel products and operations for our franchise community to use as a benchmark,” said Reas Kondraschow, senior vice and managing director, Ramada International Hotels & Resorts.

The hotel, which is currently undergoing renovations to increase its size from 37 rooms to 120 rooms, will open in May 2002. It will be a full-service hotel catering to the business and tourist markets and will be a four-star property by Italian standards.

Located 25 minutes from Bologna, Occhiobello is known for its art museums and leather industry. This will be the first international standard hotel in Occhiobello or its neighboring city Ferrara.

For dining and entertainment, the Ramada Hotel Occhiobello will feature a restaurant and a lounge. There will be two meeting rooms and a banquet room for business and social gatherings.

The Ramada Hotel Occhiobello will maintain Ramada International’s five pillars, which are: a restful sleep, an invigorating shower, a well-trained staff, an exceptional level of cleanliness, and the “Ramada Mornings Breakfast” - a selection that is hot, delicious and easy.

There are currently 137 Ramada International hotels in 20 countries and territories.

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