WASHINGTON, Two Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR - News) executives, Dave Sampson and Priscilla J. Hollman, are recipients of the National Urban League's prestigious Donald H. McGannon Award for their commitment to ideals and beliefs in equal opportunity. Mr. Sampson, Marriott's senior vice president, diversity initiatives, and Ms. Hollman, the lodging company's vice president, diversity relations, accepted their honors at the National Urban League Annual Conference on the 20th anniversary of its McGannon awards presentation.

Donald H. McGannon, for whom the award is named, was president and chairman of the board of Westinghouse Broadcasting Corporation ("Group W") and served from 1973-1978 as president of the National Urban League. McGannon, who died in 1984, was a loyal, committed friend of the Urban League who believed strongly in its equal opportunity ideals.

The awards come to the Marriott executives as their company continues to solidify its position at the forefront of the industry in several diversity- related areas, including franchising, supplier diversity, and the hiring, retention and promotion of minorities. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) recently ranked the company number one for the sixth time in its annual lodging industry report card. The report card focuses on employment, vendor relations, property ownership, advertising/marketing and charitable giving within the African-American community.

Marriott, one of the lead sponsors of this year's National Urban League Annual Conference, works closely with the League as part of a five-year strategic partnership, which took effect this year. Marriott supports the National Urban League by sponsoring recruitment, education and career development programs, while the National Urban League, which has selected Marriott as its preferred lodging provider, helps Marriott seek and identify new multicultural talent. In addition, two years ago, Marriott International Chairman and Chief Executive Officer J.W. Marriott, Jr. joined the board of trustees of the National Urban League.

"Marriott-supported National Urban League initiatives help advance educational achievement and equal opportunity," said Marc Morial, president and chief executive officer, National Urban League. "The National Urban League salutes Marriott and progressive executives and leaders like Dave Sampson and Priscilla Johnson Hollman for their vision, strategic thinking and continued support. They represent the commitment to equal opportunity that exemplified the life of Donald H. McGannon."

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE: MAR - News) is a leading lodging company with nearly 2,800 lodging properties in the United States and 69 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, Ramada International 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 128,000 employees. In fiscal year 2003, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $9 billion. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at http://www.marriott.com.