BETHESDA, Md., Sept. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) earns a place on Newsweek's first-ever list of The Greenest Big Companies in America. Marriott received an overall 'green' score of 82.75 and ranked #42 out of 100. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090217/MARRIOTTINTLLOGO ) According to the publication, 500 companies were evaluated based on their environmental impact, as well as their green policies and reputation among their peers and environmental experts. For more information on the methodology, go to http://www.newsweek.com/green. Building on more than 20 years of energy conservation experience, Marriott is committed to protecting the environment and addressing climate change. The company's Spirit To Preserve, a 5-point strategy plan calls for: Greening its $10 billion supply chain; further reducing fuel and water consumption by 25 percent per available room; creating green construction standards for hotel developers to achieve LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council; educating and inspiring employees and guests to support the environment; and helping protect the rainforest. Earlier this year, Marriott launched a program to help save the rainforest, inviting guests to "offset" their hotel stay by making a donation to the Amazon rainforest in Brazil when they make a reservation on Marriott.com. Marriott has been recognized for its environmental leadership in the hotel industry by several groups, including Ceres, an alliance of investors and environmentalists; the non-profit organization ClimateCounts.org; and Travel + Leisure magazine. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency honored Marriott with its Sustained Excellence Award for the third straight year, and has awarded its ENERGY STAR label to more than 275 Marriott hotels. For more information on Marriott's eco-friendly initiatives, visit http://www.marriott.com/spirittopreserve and follow Marriott Green on Twitter. Also, join the conversation about traveling green by becoming a fan of Travel Green on Facebook. Visit Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) for company information. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090217/MARRIOTTINTLLOGO http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Marriott International, Inc. CONTACT: Beth McGlasson of Marriott International, Inc., +1-301-380-7431, Web Site: http://www.marriott.com/

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