THE WORTHINGTON HOTEL JOINS THE MARRIOTT FAMILY OF HOTELS AS A RENAISSANCE PROPERTY

Press Release: Marriott International, Inc.

September 2, 1999
FORT WORTH, TX -- The Worthington Hotel, the 18-year-old, four star hotel in downtown Fort Worth, is the newest property to join the Renaissance Hotels and Resorts brand. The hotel will now be known as the Renaissance Worthington Hotel, Fort Worth, and Robert L. Jameson will serve as general manager.

"The staff, services, management, quality and culture of The Worthington Hotel make it a desirable property," said Mike Jannini, senior vice president of Marriott International's full service brands. "Marriott has admired the growth and financial success the hotel has achieved during its 18-year history. We are excited to continue that legacy by building on the successful relationships The Worthington has enjoyed in Fort Worth and exploring new avenues for growth.

"In fact, our goal is for The Worthington, as one of the flagship Renaissance properties, to help set standards of quality for the Renaissance brand," Jannini continued.

Transition to the new ownership will be seamless and will not affect any existing individual or group reservations or arrangements.

"The continuity of leadership at the hotel will also help make the transition process flow smoothly," Jannini said. "We are extremely pleased that Bob Jameson has agreed to continue as general manager of this property. We believe the hotel is in a strong position to achieve even greater accomplishments."

Like Jameson, nearly all Worthington managers and employees have accepted positions with the Renaissance Worthington Hotel. Of the 430 members of the Worthington staff, 98 percent remain as associates of the property.

"I have had the opportunity to work for three Marriott properties during the eight years prior to coming to The Worthington," Jameson said. "That time, particularly the most recent experience at the Camelback Inn Resort Golf Club and Spa, was a source of great pride for me, and I now look forward to rejoining the Marriott family."

"In the course of working toward this point, I have seen and felt an overwhelming enthusiasm about our property,'' Jameson continued. "Marriott truly cares about the property and our employees."

Marriott will support the hotel in retaining its Four Star and Four Diamond ratings. Also as part of the Renaissance brand and the Marriott organization, the hotel will be able to offer additional benefits for meeting planners and frequent travelers.

"While we don't anticipate making major changes, we will be working with Bob Jameson and other managers to review areas of the hotel, such as restaurant operations, that can be enhanced to meet the needs of customers and the Fort Worth community better,'' Jannini said. "No specific plans have been made, but we will be actively considering new opportunities."

The Renaissance Worthington Hotel expands Marriott's presence in Fort Worth to 10 hotels, spanning six brands including: Renaissance Hotels and Resorts (1); Residence Inn (2); Courtyard (4); TownePlace Suites (1); SpringHill Suites (1); and Fairfield Inn (2).

Renaissance Hotels and Resorts is an upscale, full-service brand with a collection of more than 80 upscale and distinctive properties in 26 countries. In the United States, the Renaissance Hotels and Resorts portfolio includes more than 30 hotels. Renaissance plans to double the number of properties worldwide in the next five years, through a combination of management contracts and franchising. Landmark Renaissance properties include the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., the Parc 55 Hotel in San Francisco and the Renaissance Beverly Hills Hotel. For more information, visit www.renaissancehotels.com.

For more information or reservations, contact the Renaissance Worthington Hotel directly at (817) 870-1000 or call Renaissance reservations at 1-800-HOTELS-1.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE: MAR) is a leading worldwide hospitality company with over 1,900 operating units in the United States and 55 other countries and territories. Marriott Lodging operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Ramada International brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership (timeshare) resorts under the Marriott and Horizons brands, and provides furnished corporate housing through its ExecuStay by Marriott division. Other Marriott businesses include senior living communities and services, wholesale food distribution, and procurement services. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has approximately 140,000 employees. In fiscal year 1998, Marriott International reported total sales of $8.0 billion.

SOURCE: Marriott International, Inc.