Marriott Vacation Club International Opens New Resort on South Carolina's Grand Strand

Marriott Vacation Club International, the vacation ownership division of Marriott International Inc. (NYSE: MAR), continues its tradition of providing beautiful oceanfront resorts with the opening of Marriott's OceanWatch Villas at Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Known for its relaxing atmosphere, temperate weather and abundance of world class golf courses, the new resort now includes 64 of a proposed 374 two-bedroom villas.
Marriott's OceanWatch Villas is part of a 2,200-acre master planned community called Grande Dunes, which includes luxury residential homes, a Roger Rulewich Group-designed 18-hole golf course, a tennis center and the 405-room Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort.

"The South Carolina coast provides an excellent vacation destination and we are happy to add Myrtle Beach to our portfolio," said Stephen P. Weisz, president, Marriott Vacation Club International. "Together with owners at Marriott's OceanWatch Villas, those families who own elsewhere with Marriott can enjoy this resort's choice location in Grande Dunes."

Providing 1,157 square feet of living area, the spacious two-bedroom, two- bath villas accommodate up to eight guests and offer oversized private balconies, most with ocean views, as well as fully-equipped kitchens, separate living and dining areas, a television in each room and DVD in the living area, master suites with soaking tubs, washers and dryers. Prices currently average $24,000 per week of deeded ownership, depending on villa view and season purchased.

Marriott Vacation Club International is the recognized worldwide leader in vacation ownership with a program highly regarded for its quality and unique flexibility. In 1984, Marriott became the first branded hospitality company by nearly a decade to enter the timeshare industry. Now celebrating 20 years of making vacation dreams come true for its owners and guests, MVCI continues to expand with a diverse portfolio of 6,500 timeshare resort villas throughout the U.S., Caribbean, Europe and Asia. Today, more than 250,000 vacation owners in all 50 states and 143 countries own their vacations "the Marriott way," offering options to exchange weeks with priority within the MVCI portfolio, trade their week(s) for Marriott Rewards points or exchange within Interval International's global system of 2,000 resorts in 75 countries.