WASHINGTON � May 16, 2003 � Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) announced today that one of New Hampshire�s most historic hotels has been meticulously restored and reopened as Wentworth by the Sea, A Marriott Hotel & Spa.  Located on Wentworth Road in New Castle (Portsmouth), N.H., the property will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned and managed by Ocean Properties, Ltd. 

�We�re very proud to bring this historic property back to life, as the sole remaining grand seaside resort in New Hampshire and one of just four 19th century grand hotels in the state,� said Tom Varley, vice president of operations of Ocean Properties.  �Preservationists are celebrating the fact that Wentworth by the Sea, named to the National Trust for Historic Preservation�s �most endangered sites� list in 1996, has been restored, and we look forward to welcoming former guests and introducing new visitors to this beautiful destination.� 

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Families will enjoy the hotel�s 8,500-square-foot full-service spa, with indoor pool and signature relaxation therapies, including the unique �Good Start� facial for kids aged 12-18.  The property also offers an outdoor pool and sundeck and member privileges for golf and tennis at the privately-owned Wentworth by the Sea Country Club. 

Ideal for both business and social occasions, the hotel offers more than 10,000 square feet of meeting space, including the original Grand Ballroom and the new, 4,000-square-foot Wentworth Ballroom, which accommodates up to 400 people.  Additional conference space is fronted by a heated glass verandah that stretches across the face of the hotel and overlooks the water.

Chef Daniel Dumont captures the flavors of the seasons in the hotel�s upscale, fine-dining Dining Room, while Roosevelt�s Lounge offers the latest beverage selections and wines by the glass.  Chef Dumont also oversees the spa cuisine menu for the spa and the casual bistro-style Sea Watch Grille, which shares the waterfront with the independently operated Wentworth by the Sea Marina.

Wentworth by the Sea is historic both as an outstanding example of a Victorian resort hotel and because it was the setting for the signing of the Russo-Japanese Peace Treaty in 1905.  (President Theodore Roosevelt won the Nobel Peace Prize for accomplishing that reconciliation.)  Guests will enjoy learning how critical a role Portsmouth played in the history of our nation and discovering why the city is one of Money magazine�s �Top Ten Places to Live.�  The seacoast of New Hampshire, just 18 miles long, is a New England scenic sampler, offering broad sandy beaches and dramatic granite outcroppings, hidden coves for sail craft and lobster boats, products from Yankee craftsmen, white-steepled churches and brick sidewalks. 

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE:MAR) is a leading worldwide hospitality company with nearly 2,600 lodging properties in the United States and 66 other countries and territories.