Charlotte Marriott SouthPark Celebrates 20 Consecutive Years as Four Diamond Hotel in Charlotte, NC

Charlotte, NC – Jan. 02, 2009 - The landmark Charlotte Marriott SouthPark Hotel, formerly the Park Hotel, has received a Four Diamond Designation for 2009 from AAA (American Automobile Association). This is this luxury hotel in Charlotte's 20th consecutive year to be honored with the elite AAA's Diamond status. The Marriott SouthPark is the only hotel in Charlotte, NC with this many consecutive years' designation as Four Diamond.

AAA's Diamond Rating System is one of only two systems that conduct physical, unannounced, on-site evaluations of hotels and restaurants, according to Visit Charlotte. For 2009, only 3.4 percent of the 58,000 AAA Diamond Rated businesses received a Four Diamond designation. AAA Diamond Ratings represent a combination of the overall quality, the range of facilities, and the level of services offered by a property. These widely recognized and trusted symbols help AAA/CAA members choose lodgings that will meet their needs and expectations.

"We are truly pleased to have earned this distinguished honor for 20 consecutive years," said Michele Pajot, General Manager of the Charlotte Marriott SouthPark Hotel in uptown Charlotte. "The Marriott SouthPark has and will always be a gem in SouthPark. This designation reinforces the level of quality and service that still makes the Marriott SouthPark just as distinguished as it was 20 years ago."

The Charlotte Marriott SouthPark is an uptown Charlotte hotel featuring 195 guest rooms, including eight suites, a concierge level, 24-hour health club and 8,750 square feet of meeting space. It recently underwent a $3 million renovation that combines state of the art technology and modern elegance. Each guest room and suite now offers the elegant combination of European sophistication and Southern charm, combined with the boutique luxury of the former Park Hotel.

For more information, contact the Charlotte Marriott SouthPark directly at 704-364-8220, visit www.charlottemarriottsouthpark.com, or call the Marriott Worldwide Reservations Center at 1-800-455-8254.

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CHARLOTTE MARRIOTT SOUTHPARK HOTEL is owned by South Park Real Estate, L.L.C., a subsidiary of JWM Family Enterprises, L.P., of which John W. Marriott III serves as president and chief executive officer. Offering 195 guest rooms, the Marriott SouthPark is one of two hotels in uptown Charlotte owned by JWM Family Enterprises in the upscale SouthPark area of Charlotte, NC. The portfolio also includes the Renaissance Charlotte SouthPark Hotel. For additional information or reservations, please log on to www.charlottemarriottsouthpark.com.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE:MAR) is a leading lodging company with more than 2,600 lodging properties in the United States and 65 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 Bulgari 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., and has approximately 133,000 employees. It is ranked as the lodging industry's most admired company and one of the best places to work for by Fortune magazine. In fiscal year 2004, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $10 billion.