Alticor chairman Steve Van Andel said: "Marriott is a great brand.  Grand Rapids is a great city.  There's no better combination.  We are proud to put the Marriott name on our new hotel."

The new hotel, which will welcome its first guests in 2007, will function under a license agreement with Marriott.  The hotel will be owned and operated by Alticor and its Amway Hotel Corp. subsidiary, which also operates the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel.

Alticor president Doug DeVos said: "The hotel project is designed to support the new downtown convention center and be an economic engine for Grand Rapids.  By bringing in a partner with such a strong marketing and convention sales system, we've added horsepower to that engine already."

"Marriott is very excited about this project.  We are so pleased that Alticor has chosen to fly the Marriott flag, and it's a pleasure to partner with them," said Tim Marvin, senior vice president of lodging development, Marriott International.  "This is going to be a fabulous hotel and something the Grand Rapids community can be very proud of."

The new hotel, initiated by Alticor co-founders Jay Van Andel and Rich DeVos, will give Grand Rapids two first-class downtown hotels.  The planned 300- to 400-room hotel, announced last fall, will be located near the corner of Pearl Street and Campau Avenue.  Amway Hotel Corp. also operates Courtyard by Marriott in the nearby Plaza Towers.
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The Amway Grand Plaza has been making history since the original hotel - The Pantlind - opened in 1913. Fashioned after English Adams architecture by designers Warren & Westmore, the hotel's special details included one of the world's largest gold-leaf ceilings in the Pantlind lobby. By 1925, The Pantlind was rightfully ranked "One of the Ten Finest Hotels in America." That distinguished history paved the way for the new Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. Reopened in 1981 after careful refurbishing of the original building, the Amway Grand Plaza combines the graceful heritage of The Pantlind with the modern amenities of the new Glass Tower. The Amway Grand Plaza has played a major role in the renaissance of downtown Grand Rapids.

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Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention and Visitors Bureau president Steve Wilson said:  "Marriott enjoys an outstanding reputation among business and convention travelers, and its name will benefit the Grand Rapids market.  No one knows how to support convention business like Marriott."

Marriott International's heritage can be traced to an A&W Root Beer stand that was opened in Washington, D.C., in 1927 by J. Willard and Alice Marriott.  The company today is one of the world's top hospitality brands, with nearly 2,800 hotels and lodging properties in the United States and 68 countries and territories.

Marriott International enjoys high consumer recognition, customer preference, and a reputation for operational excellence.  The company employs 128,000, and has been ranked by Fortune as the lodging industry's most admired company and one of the nation's most desirable employers.

The Marriott selection is the second major announcement on the hotel project in recent weeks.  Last month, Alticor announced that the Chicago firm of Lohan Caprile Goettsch Architects Inc., and the Grand Rapids firm of BETA Design Group Inc., will team up to create the new hotel.

The selection of a general contractor for the hotel is expected later this fall.  Site design and groundbreaking are set for next year.

About Marriott International, Inc.
Marriott International, Inc. is a leading hospitality company with nearly
2,800 lodging properties worldwide.  Headquartered in Washington, D.C., Marriott International today operates numerous hospitality properties:
Marriott Hotels & Resorts, JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Renaissance Hotels & Resorts, Residence Inn, Courtyard By Marriott, Fairfield Inn, TownePlace Suites, SpringHill Suites, Marriott Executive Apartments, Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, and Ramada International.  In fiscal year 2003, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $9 billion.

About Alticor
Alticor (http://www.alticor.com ) is the parent company of Amway Corp., Quixtar Inc., and Access Business Group LLC.  Headquartered in Ada, Michigan, USA, Alticor and its affiliates offer products, business opportunities, and product development, manufacturing and logistics services in more than 80 countries and territories worldwide.  In its most recent fiscal year, the company reported worldwide sales of $4.9 billion.