Four New Hotels in Europe Officially Join Autograph Collection

The first four Autograph Collection hotels in Europe are the:

• AC Santo Mauro, Madrid, Spain
• AC Palacio del Retiro, Madrid, Spain
• AC Palacio de Santa Paula, Granada, Spain
• AC Baqueira Hotel & Spa, Baqueira, Spain

The four hotels were selected to join Autograph Collection due to their rich history and unique style as part of a recently announced joint venture with AC Hotels.

"We are thrilled to formally introduce Autograph Collection in Europe with such a distinct and notable group of hotels that exemplifies a strong culture and brand identity," said Kip Vreeland, vice president of the Autograph Collection for Marriott International, Inc. "Each hotel embodies Autograph Collection's mission to deliver original, independent hotel experiences to travelers with unique interests.

We believe that incorporating properties such as these will be an integral aspect of our European expansion strategy as we seek to double the size of our portfolio here by 2015."
Antonio Catalan, chairman and CEO of AC Hotels, joined Autograph Collection because of its incredible growth and brand potential.

"Autograph Collection is a fantastic opportunity for us, as it provides extensive marketing opportunities, buying power, and access to the Marriott Rewards program," said Catalan. "Autograph Collection's greatest advantage is its comprehensive distribution channels. I am confident it will have a significant impact on our occupancy rates. It is a true honor for us to be a part of Autograph Collection and a member of the Marriott International global family of brands." htp://www.youtube.com/user/autographHotels?feature=mhum

The new Autograph Collection hotels include:
The AC Santo Mauro in Madrid, which occupies the premises of an elegant late nineteenth-century building, once the residence of the Duke de Santo Mauro.

Including 50 luxurious guestrooms, the stunning 50-room AC Palacio del Retiro is housed in a twentieth century building and preserves the original moldings, woodwork and stained-glass windows of the original noble residence.

The luxurious 75-room AC Palacio de Santa Paula is a true restoration masterpiece, located in the historic center of Granada and is housed in the premises of what used to be the Santa Paula Convent, a Moorish house and a Spanish noble house, all fused into one magnificent building within walking distance of La Alhambra.

The charming 102-room AC Baqueira Hotel & Spa will be the first ski resort in Marriott International's portfolio in Europe, located in Baqueira-Beret ski station looking over the impressive landscape of the Pyrenees.

Autograph Collection (www.autographhotels.com) was launched in January of 2010, and has grown to include 20 hotels in five unique categories: Boutique Arts, Iconic Historic, Boutique Chic, Luxury Redefined and Retreat. The hotels include the spectacular Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, the newest hotel on the famed Las Vegas strip, The Algonquin Hotel in New York (a New York City Historic Landmark) and a number of Kessler Collection hotels, including the art-filled Bohemian hotels in Orlando, Florida and Savannah, Georgia. Guests may earn and redeem Marriott Rewards whenever they stay at one of these remarkable properties. Marriott anticipates it will end 2011 with close to 40 hotels in the Autograph Collection worldwide.