Friday, January 8, 2010

Marriott: 4Q better than expected in North America

BETHESDA, Md. Marriott International Inc. said Thursday it expects its fourth-quarter revenue per available room in North America to be slightly better than it forecast.

Marriott said the figure, a key measure of a hotelier's fiscal health, fell 13 percent to 14 percent, while the company said in early December that it would fall 13 percent to 16 percent decline.

Marriott said the decline in other regions would be in line with its earlier estimate of 14 percent to 16 percent on a constant dollar basis.

Marriott is scheduled to report its fourth-quarter results on Feb. 11. The hotel company is based in Bethesda, Md.

Its shares fell 11 cents to $27.87 in after-hours trading Thursday after closing up 11 cents at $27.98 during regular trading.