Marriott Declares Cash Dividend; Board Approves Increase in Share Repurchase Authorization by 25 Million Shares

WASHINGTON, Aug 04, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) today announced that its board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of ten and one half cents per share of common stock. The company and its predecessors (old Marriott International, Inc. and Marriott Corporation) have paid a dividend in every quarter since late 1977. The dividend is payable October 17, 2005, to shareholders of record as of September 8, 2005.

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Marriott also announced that the board has increased by 25 million shares the authorization to repurchase the company's common stock, for a total outstanding authorization of 28.8 million shares. The 28.8 million shares represent 13.3 percent of the outstanding common stock shares of the company. Shares may be purchased in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. During 2004, the company repurchased 14 million shares, and to date in 2005 through August 3 has repurchased 14.8 million additional shares.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE: MAR) is a leading lodging company with more than 2,600 lodging properties in the United States and 65 other countries and territories. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C. It is ranked as the lodging industry's most admired company and one of the best places to work for by Fortune(R) magazine. In fiscal year 2004, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $10 billion, and the company had approximately 133,000 employees at year-end 2004. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at http://www.marriott.com.

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SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.

Tom Marder of Marriott International, Inc., +1-301-380-2553, or
thomas.marder@marriott.com

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