Marriott's EVP and CFO expects its worldwide systemwide revenue per available room (RevPAR) in the 2011 first quarter to increase approximately 7 percent, at the low end of the company's 7 to 9 percent first quarter guidance.

Speaking at the J.P. Morgan Gaming, Lodging, Restaurant & Leisure Management Access Forum here, Mr. Carl Berquist will say demand in international markets has been robust and international systemwide RevPAR is expected to increase 11 percent in constant dollars in the 2011 first quarter. 

For full-year 2010, approximately 65 percent of the company's incentive fees were derived from international properties.

Although overall North American RevPAR growth remains strong year-over-year, North American RevPAR growth has been modestly lower than expected, especially in large group hotels in markets such as New York, Atlanta, Orlando and Washington, D.C.   The company expects North American systemwide RevPAR growth of 5 to 6 percent for the first quarter of 2011.

Mr. Berquist will reiterate the company's diluted earnings per share guidance for the first quarter of $0.24 to $0.28 per share.  The company will release its first quarter 2011 results at approximately 5:00 p.m. eastern time on April 20, and discuss the quarter and outlook for 2011 in more detail on its earnings conference call on April 21 at 10:00 a.m. eastern time.

Note: The RevPAR projections and EPS guidance discussed in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of federal securities laws and are not historical facts. We caution you that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including the uncertain environment in the lodging industry and the economy generally; supply and demand changes for hotel rooms; competitive conditions in the lodging industry; and other risk factors identified in our most recent annual report on Form 10-K; any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the statements herein. These statements are made as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.