WASHINGTON, Oct. 6, 2004 -- Marriott has expanded and enhanced its Joy - Your Dream Wedding event and planning service with the introduction of a dedicated weddings web site -- JoyWeddingsByMarriott.com. Brides and grooms- to-be can now cross the threshold into Marriott's world of weddings and access an online resource that provides wedding planning services, a photo gallery of real weddings, a honeymoon directory, stories from couples who recently tied the knot at Marriott properties, and a customized search for properties that match the couple's criteria.

JoyWeddingsByMarriott.com is designed to evoke the emotional and personal experience of one's wedding with imagery and sound. The site opens with a stylistic view of real weddings depicted in black and white images with splashes of red and a soft musical backdrop to draw couples into their own dream of their wedding. As dream weddings are one of a kind, Marriott's new site was created to make them a reality with information on Marriott Certified Wedding Planners, catering, wedding extras, ceremonies, receptions, honeymoon suites, hotel room blocks and rehearsal dinners, as well as how to access the toll-free wedding resource line.

A honeymoon section highlights top honeymoon destinations, and there is also an interactive option in which couples can link to information about specific Marriott and Renaissance properties and request additional details. Images of venues, wedding cakes and flower arrangements stream across the photo gallery pages. And for brides and grooms who want to read actual wedding tales from couples who took the plunge at a Marriott or Renaissance hotel, a "stories" section reveals newlyweds' adventures.

The new web site is a key part of the lodging industry's most extensive wedding service, Joy - Your Dream Wedding. Earlier this year, Marriott launched a toll-free resource line, 877-4-OUR-JOY (877-468-7569), where Marriott wedding specialists are available to answer specific wedding questions, share trends and protocols, and research appropriate venues and locations.

Marriott also has trained 1,700 Certified Wedding Event Planners who can assist with scheduling and planning details or work directly with the couple's outside wedding planner. Each Marriott Certified Wedding Event Planner passes a certification course to enhance skills in wedding protocols, etiquette, culinary and decorating trends, with training ranging from traditions in ethnic weddings to destination and military weddings. Marriott Certified Wedding Event Planners are on-site at Marriott and Renaissance hotels and resorts throughout the U.S. and Caribbean.

"With the addition of our dedicated weddings web site to the Joy - Your Dream Wedding program, brides and grooms can achieve their dream weddings and honeymoons with the click of a button," said Robin Uler, senior vice president, food & beverage, retail services, spas and event management. "The web site and toll-free resource line provide easy access to Marriott and Renaissance Certified Wedding Event Planners who are trained in all aspects of wedding planning."

Members of Marriott Rewards(R), the company's loyalty program, can earn points for their wedding by taking advantage of Marriott's Rewarding Events. A substantial number of points can be earned based on qualified charges, including the wedding room block, banquet space, catering, flowers, audiovisual and staging. Points can be redeemed for the couple's honeymoon or free vacations at more than 2,400 Marriott International hotels worldwide. Details on Marriott's Rewarding Events are available at MarriottRewards.com.

Globally, the number of wedding events at Marriott and Renaissance properties has grown approximately 10 percent over the past two years. Annually, weddings and wedding-related business generate property revenues of approximately $300 million for the company's full-service hotels. In addition, more couples are also traveling to get married, choosing destination and resort venues that provide unique and sometimes exotic backdrops for weddings, as well as transforming the event into a vacation for family and friends. Marriott offers the most resorts and spas in the lodging industry.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE: MAR) 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.

SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.

Web Site: http://www.marriott.com