Exhibit (5)(a)



                               October 31, 1997

Marriott International, Inc.
10400 Fernwood Road
Bethesda, Maryland 20817

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel for Marriott International, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), with respect to a Registration Statement on Form 
S-8 (the "Registration Statement") offering 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock of
the Company to be offered to employees under the Company's Employee Stock
Purchase Plan (the "Plan"). This Registration Statement is being filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof.

     In connection with our services as counsel for the Company with respect to
the Registration Statement, we have examined, among other things, such federal
and state laws and such documents, certificates, telegrams, and corporate or
other records as we deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of
preparation of this opinion.

     Based on the foregoing examination, we hereby advise that in our opinion:

     (1)   The Plan has been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and duly
           approved by the stockholders of the Company and is now legally
           effective;

     (2)   The 2,500,000 shares of stock included in the Registration Statement
           for issuance under the Plan, when issued under the Plan in accordance
           with the terms and provisions thereof, will be legally issued, fully
           paid, and non-assessable; and


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Marriott International, Inc.
October 31, 1997
Page 2


     (3)   The opinion contained in the preceding paragraph is based on the
           assumption that, at the time such shares of stock are issued, the
           Registration Statement will then be effective and all applicable
           state securities laws will have been complied with.

     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the 
     Registration Statement.

                                      Very truly yours,

        
                                      MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                      LAW DEPARTMENT

        
                                      By: /s/ Joseph Ryan
                                         -------------------
                                         Joseph Ryan
                                         General Counsel


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