October 9, 2012 - Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) expands its reach in the Middle East as it marks the grand opening of Residence Inn by Marriott Manama Juffair, Marriott’s largest extended stay brand within the Marriott International portfolio.

Residence Inn by Marriott Manama Juffair in Bahrain is the first Residence Inn property in the Middle East. It is an 80-unit property located in suburban Manama, and is owned by International Trading and Investment Co. Marriott International has two other properties that are currently under construction in the region: an 83-unit Residence Inn by Marriott Jizan in Saudi Arabia and a 143-unit Residence Inn by Marriott Kuwait, scheduled to open in 2013 and 2015 respectively.

Commenting on the opening, Alex Kyriakidis, President and Managing Director of Marriott International Middle East and Africa said, “Marriott International opened its first hotel in the Middle East and Africa 32 years ago and we have continued to invest in the region and build on its rich heritage to become one of the biggest hotel operators. Today we have 41 existing properties in 12 countries across seven lodging brands and a further 44 hotels under development which will more than double the number of hotels in the Middle East and Africa over the next five years. These figures are a measure of our commitment to the growth and development of the region’s tourism sector and its position as a leading global business hub.”

The Residence Inn by Marriott offers a mix of spacious, stylish and residential-feel studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom suites. A purposeful layout with designated zones allows guests to relax, work, eat, and sleep in their suites, while maintaining their routines at their own pace while traveling. Every suite features kitchens that come complete with full-sized refrigerators and stainless steel appliances that make living on the road easier for business travellers on long stays and families on leisure travel.

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