Marriott International is a leading lodging company with more than 2,800 lodging properties in 68 countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, Spring Hill Suites and Bulgari brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club International, Horizons, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Grand Residences by Marriott brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers and golf courses. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and had approximately 143,000 employees at 2005 year-end. It is ranked as the lodging industry's most admired company and one of the best places to work for by Fortune magazine. The company is also a 2006 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Energy Star partner. In fiscal year 2005, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $11.6 billion.
About Kolkata
Kolkata is the main business, commercial and financial hub of eastern India. It is a major commercial and military port, and the only city in the region to have an international airport. Once India's leading city and Capital, Kolkata experienced a steady economic decline in the years following India's independence due to the prevalent unstabilised political condition and rise in trade-unionism supported by left-wing parties. Kolkata's economic revival was led largely by IT sector growing at 70% yearly. Some notable companies headquartered in Kolkata include ITC Limited, Bata India, Birla Corporation, Coal India, Damodar Valley Corporation and UCO Bank.