May 31, 2011 - Marriott International, Inc. today announced a new gem to add to its Renaissance Hotels portfolio in Turkey, the 212-room Renaissance Istanbul Bosphorus Hotel. The hotel, currently under construction, will open in early 2012 under a franchise agreement with Polat Holding A.S.

Offering stunning views of the Bosphorus, the magnificent towering Renaissance Istanbul Bosphorus Hotel will be located on the European side of Istanbul, midway between the areas of Taksim and Levent.

“We are thrilled to announce the addition of the Renaissance Istanbul Bosphorus Hotel to our portfolio here in the vibrant city of Istanbul,” said Amy McPherson, president and managing director for Marriott International in Europe. “Turkey is an important market for us in our overall development strategy as we move towards doubling our portfolio in Europe by 2015. We see tremendous opportunity to continue to grow across all of our brands here.”

The 20-story Renaissance Istanbul Bosphorus Hotel will feature a rooftop bar boasting incredible city views, a lobby bar, bistro and all-day dining restaurant with outdoor terrace. For leisure and relaxation, the hotel will offer state-of-the-art fitness facilities including an indoor pool, sauna, steam room and Turkish bath.

“Renaissance Hotels are known throughout the world for creating authentic travel experiences that offer guests a sense of discovery,” said Tina Edmundson, senior vice president of Lifestyle Brands for Marriott International. “Istanbul is a premier cultural destination, making it a perfect fit for our second Renaissance Hotel here.”

Renaissance Hotels are known for authentic travel experiences which offer passionate travelers the opportunity to discover local experiences through hotel touch points including design, cuisine and distinct amenities.

The Renaissance Istanbul Bosphorus Hotel will join seven existing properties in Marriott International’s portfolio in Turkey, including the newly opened EDITION Istanbul Hotel and soon-to-open JW Marriott Hotel Ankara.

RENAISSANCE HOTELS is an upscale brand with more than 150 properties in 34 countries that speaks to passionate travelers in search of authentic local discoveries when traveling for business or leisure. Renaissance Hotels has recently welcomed several new "gems" to its global collection – the historic 5-star St Pancras Renaissance in London, the exotic Renaissance Sanya Resort and Spa in burgeoning China, the urban boutique Renaissance Atlanta Midtown and the sexy Renaissance Sao Paulo. These hotels join a rich portfolio defined by distinctive and well-known icons such as the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C., the Eden Roc Miami Beach Resort & Spa, and the Renaissance Paris Vendome Hotel. To make reservations and for more information about Renaissance Hotels, visit www.renaissancehotels.com. Follow Renaissance on www.twitter.com/RenHotels, Facebook.com/RenaissanceHotels and the Rlife Blog at TheRenaissanceLife.com.

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