WASHINGTON, Marriott International, Inc. MAR announced today that the New Orleans Grande Hotel, formerly the Le Meridien, has been converted to the JW Marriott Hotel New Orleans. The 494- room hotel is the first JW Marriott in Louisiana, the second in the Southeastern United States, and the 28th in a collection of exclusive JW Marriott hotels and resorts worldwide. Located at 614 Canal Street, the property is owned by CNL Hospitality Properties, Inc. and managed by Marriott International.

"We're delighted to bring the JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts brand to the New Orleans area. This hotel offers guests all the excitement of this great city, and we look forward to delivering the distinctive environments, high levels of personal service, and unique and imaginative dining experiences that are hallmarks of the JW Marriott brand," said Michael Giamundo, general manager, JW Marriott Hotel New Orleans.

The 30-story hotel features marble accents with dramatic ceiling treatments and lighting. The interior is decorated in light yet bright colors combining French revival touches with "New Orleans flair." Guest rooms are elegantly appointed and overlook the riverside or the French Quarter district. In-room amenities include three dual-line telephones with data ports and voice mail, cable television with pay-per-view movies, coffee and tea service, hair dryer, iron and ironing board, and in-room mini-bar.

Ideally situated along Canal Street, across from the entrance to the famed French Quarter, the JW Marriott New Orleans is adjacent to the city's business district and just eight blocks from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The property is within 15 miles of Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and provides convenient access to many nearby attractions, including Bourbon Street, Aquarium of the Americas, Louisiana Superdome, Six Flags New Orleans, Port of New Orleans, and Tulane and Loyola universities.

Ideal for both business and social occasions, the JW Marriott Hotel New Orleans offers over 17,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, including a 6,160-square-foot Grand ballroom overlooking Canal Street and 15 individual meeting rooms on two levels. Each meeting room evokes the French revival period, with tailored ceilings, wall treatments and lighting fixtures.

For dining and entertainment, the JW Marriott Hotel New Orleans is home to the critically acclaimed MIDI restaurant, featuring authentic French country cuisine, with regional selections for breakfast lunch and dinner. Guests can also enjoy cocktails, appetizers and seasonal live jazz in the hotel's lobby bar and lounge, Le Jazz.

Recreational amenities include a health club with heated outdoor rooftop swimming pool, and guests can take advantage of golf, tennis and horseback riding nearby. A business center, 24-hour room service, laundry/valet service and gift shop are also available.

The most elegant and luxurious hotels carrying the Marriott name, JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts cater to discerning travelers. The first JW Marriott hotel opened in 1984 on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., as a tribute to the founder of Marriott Corporation, predecessor to Marriott International. Other JW Marriott hotels in the United States can be found in exciting destinations like New York; Santa Monica; Phoenix; Miami; Ko Olina, Hawaii; Las Vegas; Palm Desert, Calif.; Houston and Atlanta. Worldwide, JW Marriott hotels are found in major cities and resort locations, such as Hong Kong, Mexico City, Cancun, Seoul, Bangkok, Phuket, Mumbai, Dubai and Cairo. JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts opening this year include the JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai and the JW Marriott Grande Lakes Resort, Orlando, Fla.

For more information or reservations, contact the JW Marriott Hotel New Orleans at (504) 525-6500, call the Marriott Worldwide Reservations Center at (800) 228-9290, or visit the Marriott web site at www.marriott.com. JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts participate in the company's award-winning Marriott Rewards® frequent guest program. Members earn their choice of points toward free vacations or frequent flyer mileage for dollars spent at more than 2,300 Marriott hotels worldwide.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. MAR is a leading worldwide hospitality company with nearly 2,600 lodging properties in the United States and 66 other countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Ramada International brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club International, Horizons, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Marriott Grand Residence Club brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has approximately 129,000 employees. For more information or reservations, please visit the web site at www.marriott.com.