SHANGHAI, China, Nov. 7 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/—Mainland China`s first JW
Marriott hotel brand and Marriott Executive Apartments, the 342-room JW
Marriott Hotel Shanghai and 255-unit Tomorrow Square Marriott Executive
Apartments, celebrated their official grand opening today.

During a press conference preceding the opening ceremonies, Martyn
Standen, general manager of the JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai and Tomorrow
Square Marriott Executive Apartments announced the three recipients of the
inaugural ``JW Marriott Hotel Graduate Training Programme.`` The awardees,
Chen Liang, Zhao Shen-Yan and Lu Yan-Fei, from the Shanghai Institute of
Tourism and Shanghai Jiao Tong University were selected out of 42 trainees
to participate in a six- month tailor-made programme with overseas
opportunities to train at JW Marriott hotels in Bangkok, Dubai and Hong
Kong. ``The JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai aims to set the trend to provide
learning opportunities to talented students every year,`` Standen said.

Today`s celebration includes a colourful ceremony, followed by a luncheon,
to mark the grand opening. Later this evening, some 400 guests, including
government officials, celebrities, trading partners and media
representatives, will attend the gala Grand Opening ceremony.

Both properties are owned by Shanghai Tomorrow Square Company Limited.
Speaking on behalf of the owning group, Zhang Luo Min, the Chairman of
Shanghai Tomorrow Square Company Limited, said, ``We are very pleased to
have chosen Marriott International as our management company. As the
leading international hotel management group, Marriott International is
well-known for its long history, excellent brand image, innovative
management philosophy, as well as its worldwide marketing networks.``
Zhang continues, ``We need a hotel operator with high quality
international service and a global reservations network. Marriott
International provides us with both and more.``

Standen said, ``We aim to provide Marriott`s world-class personalised
service and products topped with a superb level of hospitality for
business guests and leisure travellers alike.``

Since the soft opening on China`s National Day, October 1, the hotel has
enjoyed a positive reception of high profile guests and events, including
the 2003 Channel Young Lycra In Style Fashion Awards, the Audi
International Fashion Show Case, where designers, celebrities and models
from all over the world stayed at the JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai.

President and Managing Director of Marriott International Lodging, Ed
Fuller joined the celebration and expressed optimistic views about the
China market.

``The launch of JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai and Tomorrow Square Marriott
Executive Apartments sums the number of Marriott properties in China to
33. Shanghai is the first city outside the US that has the full portfolio
of Marriott International lodging brands,`` he said. ``Growing our lodging
portfolio in China is our primary focus in the region. This will enable us
to create synergy and leverage our opportunities for both domestic and
international visitors to China.``

Fuller acknowledged Shanghai is poised to become one of the world`s major
international trade and financial centres. ``We are confident that these
two properties will successfully participate in the city`s tourism
infrastructure,`` he said.

Standing at 60 stories high as the tallest hotel in downtown Puxi, the
hotel and serviced apartments are located in Shanghai`s power centre, one
block from the People`s Square, People`s Park, Shanghai Grand Theatre and
Shanghai Museum of Fine Arts. Within walking distance is The Bund, the
nation`s financial business centre. The famous Nanjing Road Pedestrian
Shopping Walk and the newest entertainment centre, Xintiandi, are only a
stone`s throw away.
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. 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(R).
For more information or reservations, please visit the web site at
http://www.marriott.com/ .
——-