Marriott International, Inc. (MAR: NYSE) announced today at the American Lodging Investment Summit that seven iconic hotels from The Kessler Collection will be the first to join the Autograph Collection, the company’s newest brand that features independent hotels and resorts from around the world representing upper-upscale and luxury properties with distinctive personalities. All seven hotels are set to join the Autograph portfolio by the end of April.

The seven properties are:

• The El Monte Sagrado, Taos, New Mexico
• The Grand Bohemian Hotel, Asheville, North Carolina
• The Mansion on Forsyth Park, Savannah, Georgia
• The Bohemian Hotel Riverfront, Savannah, Georgia
• The Casa Monica Hotel, St. Augustine, Florida
• The Grand Bohemian Hotel, Orlando, Florida
• The Celebration Hotel, Orlando, Florida

“We are thrilled to launch the Autograph Collection with such a distinguished group of hotels,” said Arne Sorenson, president and chief operating officer for Marriott International. “Each Kessler property offers a truly unique guest experience and fits perfectly with the positioning of the Autograph Collection – independent hotels that represent an expansive range of categories for distinct life experiences in dynamic destinations.”

Richard Kessler, chief executive officer – The Kessler Collection, said, “The Autograph Collection gives us a tremendous opportunity to leverage Marriott’s industry leading global reservations system, and strong customer outreach through their ecommerce and sales and marketing platforms.”

With plans to add more than 25 through in 2010 with locations throughout the world, the Autograph Collection provides Marriott with another attractive platform for future global growth. Comprised of independent properties maintaining their own brand name and personality, the Autograph Collection hotels will be featured on Marriott.com and will participate in Marriott Rewards, Marriott International’s award-winning guest loyalty program, where guests can earn points at more than 3,200 hotels in 68 countries.

• The El Monte Sagrado in Taos, New Mexico is an 84-room hotel set amidst the mystical beauty of the New Mexico landscape. A sanctuary for mind, body, and soul, offering guests a unique travel experience inspired by Native American culture, foreign lands and local artists. www.elmontesagrado.com/
  
  
• The Grand Bohemian Hotel Asheville brings boutique comfort to the picturesque setting of Asheville, North Carolina. This exquisite Asheville hotel holds authentic Old-World, rustic ambiance of this Tudor inspired boutique hotel, masterfully blended with modern luxuries and located steps away from The Biltmore Estate. www.bohemianhotelasheville.com
  
  
• The Mansion on Forsyth Park is truly unique among other Savannah hotels welcoming you to a magnificently-restored Victorian mansion set in Savannah's legendary Historic District. This intimate Savannah hotel is graced by a collection of over 400 pieces of original artwork. Set just inside the legendary Historic District, the hotel allows guests to explore the timeless intrigue and excitement that is synonymous with Savannah. www.mansiononforsythpark.com/
  
  
• The Bohemian Hotel Riverfront offers guests a taste of class Savannah style and luxury, perfectly located on the Savannah waterfront. The hotel is immersed within the atmosphere of historic River Street, and steps away from Savannah’s most historic sites. The Bohemian Hotel sits like a jewel above the historic 18th century cobblestone street along the famous Savannah River. www.bohemianhotelsavannah.com/
  
  
• The Casa Monica Hotel is a majestic, restored 1888 landmark hotel in historic St. Augustine, Florida, America’s oldest city. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Casa Monica is the city’s only AAA Four Diamond hotel. Restored in 1999, the Casa Monica Hotel blends a legendary past with contemporary pleasures. www.casamonica.com/
  
  
• The Grand Bohemian Hotel in Orlando, Florida offers guests artful luxury and AAA Four-Diamond service in the heart of Orlando's Business & Arts District. A downtown landmark of music, art and cuisine, which is home to an unprecedented collection of over 150 rare works of art. www.grandbohemianhotel.com/
• The Celebration Hotel is a charming, upscale boutique hotel just five minutes from the Walt Disney World® Resort in Celebration, a planned community with a nostalgic hometown ambience. The AAA-Four Diamond Celebration Hotel provides a peaceful lakeside oasis convenient to Orlando’s excitement. www.celebrationhotel.com/