Service Offers Wedding Planning Assistance Seven Days a Week

Marriott International, Inc. today launched a special weddings toll free resource line. The resource line is part of the company's Joy -- Your Dream Wedding event and planning service. It provides tips and assistance on everything from ethnic and multi-cultural weddings to destination weddings.

Offered daily, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, Marriott's wedding specialists can answer specific wedding questions, share trends and protocols, and research appropriate venues and locations. Upon request, the couple can be referred to a Marriott "certified wedding event planner" who can assist with scheduling and planning details. There are more than 1,400 Marriott "certified wedding event planners" on-site at Marriott and Renaissance hotels and resorts throughout the U.S. and Caribbean.

"Joy -- Your Dream Wedding is the most extensive weddings service in the lodging industry," said Robin Uler, senior vice president, food and beverage and retail. "Our new toll-free resource line complements our on-site certified wedding planners in helping couples plan the perfect wedding. Each Marriott and Renaissance 'certified wedding event planner' has completed specially designed course work that covers a variety of wedding protocols and etiquette, as well as culinary and decorating trends. Marriott's wedding services are also being enhanced with a dedicated weddings web site."

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.

Members of Marriott Rewards(R), the company's loyalty program, can also 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 http://marriottrewards.com/.