Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) announced today the opening of the 187-room Courtyard by Marriott Hotel Toulouse Airport Hotel, the company’s tenth hotel in France. The property is opposite the Aeronautic Park, approximately 4 kilometers from Toulouse-Blagnac International Airport and a short distance from the home of Airbus Industries in Aeronautic Park. The Courtyard will attract business travelers visiting the city of Toulouse, a major industrial and R&D center, specializing in aeronautical engineering, biotechnology and information technology in the south of France.

“This hotel is designed for European business travelers who want all the conveniences of an upscale hotel but with a casual, open design where they can be totally at ease,” says Brian King, vice president and global brand manager of Courtyard by Marriott. “By offering a refreshing service and cozy atmosphere our guests will have a new experience in the south of France.”

Guest rooms at the Courtyard by Marriott Toulouse Airport are fully equipped with Marriott’s new, highly-acclaimed, plush bedding and bath linens; wireless Internet access; a well-lighted, over-sized work desk and ergonomic chair for comfort; an in-room safe and refrigerator; a coffee and tea maker and an iron and ironing board. Opening rates start at € 129.

For dining and entertainment, Oléo Pazzo, a casual Mediterranean bistro, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with outdoor patio seating, a buffet bar and a lobby lounge and bar. Additional amenities include a business center/Internet corner in the lobby and wireless Internet throughout the hotel. A Grab & Go kiosk provides snacks and sundries for those in a hurry. And the fitness center offers travelers a way to maintain their wellness regime. For small conferences and social events, the hotel has two meeting rooms with a total of 883 square feet of total meeting space.

The hotel is also just a 15-minute drive from the historic city center of Toulouse and its main attractions –the famous Place du Capitole, the Opera and museums such as Les Abbatoirs, a modern and contemporary art museum; Les Augustins Museum of Fine Art; and the Musée Paul Dupuy for graphic and decorative art.

The hotel general manager is Vera Champagne, and the director of sales is Caroline Chalmin.

The Courtyard by Marriott brand is currently represented in France with properties in Neuilly and Colombes, a western suburb of Paris near La Defense. New Courtyard hotels in France are also planned for St. Denis in 2009, Marseille in 2010, Paris Boulogne in 2010 and Arceuil in 2010. Within Europe, 11 additional Courtyards are planned in Frankfurt South Oberforsthaus and Munich, Germany; Budapest, Hungary; Rome, Italy; Kristiansund, Norway; St. Petersburg, Russia; Basel, Switzerland; Stockholm-Kungsholmen, Sweden; Istanbul, Turkey; London Gatwick and Aberdeen in the United Kingdom; and Belfast, Ireland.

Marriott introduced Courtyard in 1983. Since then, the brand has grown into the company’s largest brand and the world’s 13th largest lodging chain with more than 800 hotels worldwide.

Paula Butler
(240) 328-7207
Marriott