Despite the tensed situation in global economy, Marriott International is going to open 130 new hotels within the next four years.

The new locations do carry the brands of JW Marriott, Marriott, Renaissance, Courtyard and Marriott Executive Apartments. About 32.000 rooms and 38.000 jobs outside North America are created, and this is just one part of the global expansion strategy to establish a total of 125.000 new rooms worldwide.

"Our industry is unbreakable", president and managing director of Marriott Ed Fuller declared during the press conference at the ITB Berlin. He added that his company believed on a pent-up demand in travelling, especially in trend markets.

Fuller did not forget to give examples: At the Maledive archipel the Renaissance Maldive Gaakoshibee Resort & Spa consisting of onehundred small villas is about to open next year in spring time. In the capital of Kasakstan the JW Marriott Hotel Almaty with 215 rooms already 2009 will start operating.

Likewise the scandinavian destinations Oslo (Norway) and Malmoe (Sweden) get a brandnew Renaissance and Courtyard already this year.

The international positioning it relatively new; 1990 Marriott had only 13 hotels outside North America; currently there are 350 locations in operations. Recently the company became number 4 in the British Sunday Times list of top 100 firms most popular among local employees.

Marriott announced immediately the intention to reach first position - as it already had achieved during the last years in India, Mexico, Peru, Ireland, Thailand, China and USA.

"To be awarded as the best employer is a main target for us, because it helps us in the struggle for the best staff", Fuller explained in Berlin. In contrast to the economic hangover there is no relief on the hotel job market; and this is expected to deteriorate after business cycle has been turning up again, the Marriott president said. One of the bases for the sympathy many staff members are feeling for the company is Marriott's generous further education and training.

The company is proud to point out that 50 per cent of the management got promoted inside the structure and began at low positions.

For the training Marriott does offer many means of continuing education in hundreds of topics and occupational areas. Some of them are web-based and allow the participants to control the speed and extent of training units autonomously.