Exhibit 99.1

Bethesda,  MD.,  January 16, 1997 -- Host Marriott  Corporation  announced today
that Christopher G. Townsend,  49, has been elected by its Board of Directors as
General  Counsel of the  Company.  Mr.  Townsend  will be  replacing  Stephen J.
McKenna  who has left his  position  as  Executive  Vice  President  and General
Counsel.

Mr.  McKenna,  who will remain with the Company in an of counsel  position,  has
been with  Marriott  since 1973.  In 1976,  he was  promoted to the  position of
Assistant General Counsel;  in 1986 he was elected Vice President,  and in 1990,
Associate General Counsel.  While in these positions he was actively involved in
the  development and financing of most of the Marriott  lodging  products opened
during the past 15 years,  including the New York  Marriott  Marquis and the San
Francisco  Marriott,  two of the Company's most  significant  assets.  Since the
Company split in 1993, he has held the position of General  Counsel  responsible
for all legal matters of the Company.  He most  recently  served as an Executive
Vice President of Host Marriott.

Since joining Host Marriott in 1982, Mr. Townsend has  participated in financial
transactions  on more than 250  hotels  representing  in excess of $5 billion of
asset  value,  as well as  revolving  credit  agreements,  bond and  high  yield
financing and the Company  spin-off in 1993.  He most recently  served as Senior
Vice President,  Corporate  Secretary and Deputy General Counsel.  Replacing Mr.
Townsend as Corporate  Secretary  will be Anna Mary Coburn.  Ms. Coburn has been
with the Company since 1988 and is currently Assistant General Counsel.

"Host Marriott had a tremendously  successful  year in 1996,  achieving a record
level of profitability. In addition we acquired 21 hotels, through approximately
$1.5 billion worth of real estate  transactions  and raised nearly $1 billion in
the public  markets,"  said Terence C.  Golden,  President  and Chief  Executive
Officer of Host Marriott.  "Both Steve McKenna and Chris Townsend have played an
integral part in these achievements.  We appreciate Steve's  contribution to our
company  during  nearly  25  years  of  service.  We are  fortunate  to  have an
individual  with the experience and talent of Chris Townsend and pleased to have
him in the role of General Counsel."

Host  Marriott is a lodging real estate  company which  currently  owns or holds
controlling  interests in 81 upscale and luxury  full-service  hotel  properties
operated  primarily under the Marriott and Ritz-Carlton brand names. The Company
also  serves  as  general  partner  and  holds  minority  interests  in  various
unconsolidated  partnerships  that own 251 lodging  properties,  31 of which are
full-service hotels.

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