Marriott Pledges Room Proliferation

Marriott International said Thursday that it plans to add 85,000 to 100,000 new hotel rooms worldwide between 2007 and 2009, and increase the number of rooms it currently has outside North America by more than 30 percent. By the end of 2009, Marriott expects to have close to 600,000 rooms worldwide, with 120,000 rooms outside of North America. Approximately 11,000 to 12,000 rooms will be added in Asia, with Marriott's luxury brand, Ritz-Carlton, accounting for about a quarter of the growth.