Marriott Goes 'Smoke-Free' in North America

More than 2,300 Properties and 10 Lodging Brands included in the Program - Lodging Industry's Largest Move Ever to a Smoke-Free Environment

Marriott International, Inc. announced today that all of the Company's lodging brands in the United States and Canada will become 100 percent smoke-free, beginning in September. This represents the industry's largest move to a non-smoking environment, with more than 2,300 hotels and corporate apartments and nearly 400,000 guest rooms under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn, TownePlace Suites and Marriott ExecuStay brands.

"Creating a smoke-free environment demonstrates a new level of service and care for our guests and associates," said J.W. Marriott, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Marriott International. "Our family of brands is united on this important health issue and we anticipate very positive customer feedback."

The new policy includes all guest rooms, restaurants, lounges, meeting rooms, public space and employee work areas. Currently more than 90 percent of Marriott guest rooms are already non-smoking and smoking is prohibited in many public spaces due to local laws. Demand for non-smoking rooms continues to rise with new information from the Surgeon General on the hazards of secondary smoke.