marriott news

Marriott International, Inc. MAR today announced the appointment of Alain Piallat as president of Marriott Lodging of Canada. In his new position, Piallat will oversee Marriott's most aggressive growth period in Canada to date with an estimated 15 additional hotels slated for the end of 2001. With the addition of these new properties, Marriott International, recently listed as the "Most Admired Company" in the lodging industry in Fortune magazine's list for 2000, expects to have a total of 40 hotels and resorts throughout Canada making it one of Canada's leading hospitality companies.

In Canada, Marriott has a strong team of local "partners" including Ocean Properties, Concord Hospitality and Larco Hospitality, who will continue to help drive Marriott's growth through their investment in new and renovated properties across Canada. Working with other partners such as Air Canada Aeroplan, Visa Canada, and our sponsorship of the Canadian Olympic Association, will increase and enhance customer preference for Marriott's portfolio of lodging brands.

Piallat, who also oversees the Midwest Region of the United States, has been instrumental in the success of many renowned hotel properties. He succeeds Simon Cooper who will become president and chief operating officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC., the luxury hospitality subsidiary of Marriott International. Cooper is responsible for initiating the goal of rapid Canadian hotel development. Under his leadership, Marriott's Canadian presence grew from 7 to 25 hotels in just 3 years.

With more than 30 years of experience in all facets of the hospitality industry, Piallat began his career with the Marriott Corporation in 1974, at the then Marriott Essex House in New York City as Director of Food & Beverage. He has held general manager positions at the Boston Marriott/Copley Place, the Denver City Center Marriott, the Dayton Marriott Hotel and in 1989, was the opening general manager of the 1500 room San Francisco Marriott Moscone Center. Prior to his current position, Piallat was the first market vice president for California. In that role, he was one of the architects of Marriott's new management strategy – single managers with responsibility for multiple brands in each major city and region.

Piallat began his career in the hotel business in Montreal in 1965, at the Dorval Hilton. He later worked at the Waldorf Astoria in New York, and was the opening General Manager for the first Meridien Hotel in the US in 1978.

Piallat has won numerous awards during his extensive career with Marriott International and is an active member of various travel, tourism, hospitality and business organizations.

Educated in France, Piallat graduated from the distinguished Hotel Management School in Paris. He also served in the French Air Force as a translator.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. MAR is a leading worldwide hospitality company with over 2,200 operating units in the United States and 59 other countries and territories. Marriott Lodging operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Ramada International brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott, Ritz- Carlton and Horizons brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its ExecuStay by Marriott division; and operates conference centers. Other Marriott businesses include senior living communities and services, wholesale food distribution, procurement services and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has approximately 153,000 employees. In fiscal year 2000, Marriott International reported systemwide sales of $19.8 billion. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com.