Lodging Icon Bill Marriott Reveals Secrets of Success in WITHOUT RESERVATIONS

After 40 years at the helm of one of the largest global hotel empires, executive chairman of Marriott International (NYSE: MAR), J.W. "Bill" Marriott, Jr., offers a revealing and candid glimpse of what he has learned in a lifetime of hosting the world, in his new book WITHOUT RESERVATIONS: How A Family Root Beer Stand Grew Into a Global Hotel Company. The book is now available for $9.99 through all major eRetailers, including Amazon, iTunes and Barnes & Noble. Hard covers will be available in spring 2013.

In the book, Marriott reveals never-before-shared personal stories and business lessons, such as his decision to relinquish the CEO helm - after 40 years - to Arne Sorenson, the first CEO in company history without the last name Marriott. He candidly discusses why one of his four children wasn't tapped as his successor.

A generous philanthropist and supporter of hospitality schools across the U.S., profits from Marriott's book sales will benefit two programs supporting hotel training for disadvantaged youth, Bridges...From School to Work and Youth Career Initiative.

The book release culminates a year of milestones for Marriott, who just days after celebrating his 80th birthday in March, relinquished the helm of CEO. "I felt that it was time to write some things down and share the secret to our company's success - especially our core values that create the foundation for how we take care of our people and the way we do business all around the world. I also thought it was time to share a few memorable and entertaining stories that may really surprise folks."

As devoted to his personal family as he is to his "family" of 300,000 associates at managed and franchised hotels worldwide, Marriott reflects on a range of compelling topics in the book, including the role his mother played in the growth and direction of the company; the importance of touch points-moments of interaction that can make all the difference between a customer's satisfaction and disappointment; why you should say "thank you;" the impact of 9/11 on the travel industry; his recipe for success and leadership guideposts that were in a letter from his father that proved to be invaluable; decisions made-and not made; and how the competition and Next Generation Travelers are fueling unprecedented innovation.

During his tenure as CEO, Marriott boldly transformed his parents' original Hot Shoppes family restaurant chain into a global lodging giant that encompasses a portfolio of nearly 3,800 hotels across 18 brands in more than 70 countries.

Part biography, part business digest, Without Reservations presents a candid perspective on achieving the pinnacle of one's profession and lessons learned along the way.

Marriott hasn't shown signs of slowing down. He is still a company leader and has a strong following on his blog, www.MarriottOnTheMove.com. To purchase and find out more about the book, including early praise from past U.S. presidents and business leaders, visit www.Marriott.com/WithoutReservations.