BETHESDA, Md. – Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) today celebrates the groundbreaking of its first-ever hotel to contain three of its brands in a single building – a concept that underscores the company's commitment to innovate in ways that benefit both consumers and the development community.

The landmark project will rise in Nashville's SoBro neighborhood, which over the last few years has been transforming into a bustling area filled with restaurants, shopping and entertainment. The 470-room, $137 million hotel is expected to open mid-year in 2018.

"Marriott continues to grow its multi-brand portfolio, as these projects offer a myriad of benefits to both our development partners and our guests. Developers can target multiple consumer segments while benefitting from significant construction and cost synergies. Hotel guests are offered a wider range of options to serve all of their travel needs," said Tony Capuano, Executive Vice President and Global Chief Development Officer at Marriott International.

The L-shaped, 21-story building being developed by Atlanta-based North Point Hospitality will contain an AC Hotels by Marriott® that will occupy 209 rooms in one wing and a combined SpringHill Suites by Marriott® and Residence Inn by Marriott® in the adjoining wing with 125 rooms and 136 rooms, respectively. Though customers will see three brand logos on the outside of the building and have three distinct hospitality experiences inside, the developer has planned to consolidate behind-the-scenes operations and spaces to reduce ongoing expenses.

"We are very excited to make history with Marriott by being the first company to develop a tri-branded Marriott hotel," said S. Jay Patel, president and CEO of North Point Hospitality. "We are proud to partner with Marriott in bringing this concept to theNashville market and are confident that uniting the AC Hotels, Residence Inn, and SpringHill Suites brands will create a successful hotel and an exciting place to stay for a range of Music City visitors."

Marriott has experience with the benefits of combining brands in single buildings. As of June 2016, Marriott has 52 dual-brand hotels open, 84 approved and 32 under construction – more than any other hospitality company in the world. Marriott's most visible example is New York's combined Courtyard and Residence Inn located in Times Square in a 68-story tower, which makes it the tallest hotel in North America.

California and Texas are the states that contain the most dual-branded Marriott hotels now open, with four in each state, butCalifornia is poised to take the lead with 10 dual-branded properties under construction or approved.

Customers stand to benefit from this trend since the multi-brand hotels typically have more robust amenities, such as larger pools and fitness centers. North Point Hospitality's plan for the Nashville triple-brand hotel includes a large pool, state-of-the-art fitness center and large conference and meeting space on the top floor.

"It is no secret that Nashville is in need of additional hotels room," said Butch Spyridon, President and CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. "This project couldn't come at a more perfect time with a great location and a great mix of price points and uniquely different offerings. We appreciate how Marriott is meeting the needs of our visitors, whether they are convention, leisure or business travelers."

Lonely Planet named Nashville one of its top 10 cities around the world in its Best in Travel 2016 collection of top destinations to visit in the upcoming year (#BestinTravel). The list ranked Nashville at No. 9, making it the only United States city included. Travel + Leisure named Nashville a Destination of the Year (Readers' Choice) in December 2015. TripAdvisor said Nashville had the greatest increase in popularity among travelers outside the US.

About AC Hotels by Marriott

AC Hotels by Marriott, a lifestyle brand that celebrates a new modern aesthetic complemented by a European soul and Spanish roots boasts more than 90 design-led hotels in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Denmark, Turkey, France, Mexico and the United States. Design-driven AC Hotels edit away the unnecessary to remove friction, providing thoughtfully designed moments of beauty, allowing guests to focus on what's important to them. Property highlights include design-savvy guest rooms with sleek furnishings and intuitive technology features. For more information, visit ac-hotels.com.

About SpringHill Suites by Marriott
SpringHill Suites by Marriott is an all-suite brand that offers guests the little extras to help them enjoy their time away. A little extra style and design at an affordable price, makes the brand appealing to both business and leisure travelers. Featuring spacious suites and unique, well-designed layouts that allow guests to relax and reenergize. Launched in 1998, the brand currently has more than 300 locations inthe United States andCanada. SpringHill Suites participates in the award-winning Marriott Rewards® frequent travel program that allows members to earn hotel points or airline miles for every dollar spent during each stay. For more information or reservations, contact the SpringHill Suites (name of hotel) directly at hotel phone number, call the SpringHill Suites toll-free number at 888-287-9400, visit www.springhillsuites.com, become a fan at www.facebook.com/springhillsuites or follow SpringHill at twitter.com/springhillsuite.

About Residence Inn by Marriott

Residence Inn by Marriott is the global leader in the extended-stay lodging segment, with more than 700 properties located inthe United States; Canada; Europe; the Middle East and Central America. Designed for long stays, the brand offers spacious suites with separate living, working, and sleeping zones. Fully functional kitchens; grocery delivery service; 24-hour markets and complimentary breakfasts help guests maximize their time and thrive while they travel. The RI Mix™ evening events afford guests the opportunity to socialize and connect with the local community. Each Residence Inn offers free Wi-Fi in both public and guests spaces to ensure continuous connectivity while on the road. As a member of the Marriott International portfolio, Residence Inn participates in the award-winning Marriott Rewards® frequent guest program. Members earn their choice of points toward free vacations or frequent flyer mileage for dollars spent at any of the nearly 4,500 Marriott hotels worldwide.

About Marriott International

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, with nearly 4,500 properties in 87 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of more than $14 billion in fiscal year 2015. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVLGARI®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and Moxy Hotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass comprise 56 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.