Exhibit No. 99(d)

                                  [LETTERHEAD]

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL STOCKHOLDERS APPROVE SPINOFF AND MERGER TRANSACTIONS;
COMPANY SETS MARCH 27 CLOSING DATE

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 20, 1998 -- Marriott International, Inc. (MAR/NYSE) 
today reported that its stockholders have approved the company's planned 
spinoff and merger transactions. Marriott International will spin off to its 
stockholders, on a tax-free basis, a new company comprised of its lodging, 
senior living services, and distribution services businesses. This new 
company will adopt the "Marriott International, Inc." name. Following the 
spinoff, Marriott's food service and facilities management business (Marriott 
Management Services) will be merged with the North American operations of 
Sodexho Alliance. The merged company will be renamed "Sodexho Marriott 
Services, Inc."

Marriott also announced it has set March 27, 1998 as both the record date and 
closing date for the spinoff and merger transactions.

"We are very pleased with this endorsement by Marriott stockholders of the 
company's spinoff and merger plans," said J.W. Marriott, Jr., chairman and 
chief executive officer of Marriott International. "The transactions approved 
today will create two strong, well-focused and growth-oriented companies," 
Mr. Marriott added.

A total of 89.2 million shares, or over 85% of the approximately 104 million 
shares voting, were voted in favor of the transactions, which represented 71% 
of the roughly 125 million common shares outstanding. Approval of the 
transactions required an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the 
outstanding shares.

Mr. Marriott also said, "We listened to our stockholders, including Evelyn Y. 
Davis, and as previously announced, 'New' Marriott International will submit 
the dual class common stock proposal to stockholders at our annual meeting on 
May 20, 1998, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia."

The annual meeting ballot proposal will provide that, unless the holders of 
a majority of the outstanding shares approve retention of the dual class 
structure, the New Marriott board of directors will immediately convert the 
two classes into a single class of common stock, and thereafter take all 
steps necessary to remove the dual class provisions from New Marriott's 
charter. This would result in the conversion of all outstanding shares of New 
Marriott common stock into Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis. In 
addition, the board will refrain from issuing additional shares of common 
stock (having one vote per share) after the spinoff, unless stockholders vote 
to refrain the dual class structure at the 1998 annual meeting.

                                    (more)



Mr. Marriott said, "We believe the dual class structure will enhance the 
ability of New Marriott to pursue growth opportunities and create additional 
value for stockholders. We will urge our stockholders to vote in favor of 
retaining the dual class structure at our annual meeting in May."

Following the spinoff and merger transactions, a stockholder of record (as of 
March 27, 1998) with 100 shares of Marriott International common stock, for 
example, will own the following: 100 shares of "New" Marriott International 
common stock; 100 shares of "New" Marriott International Class A common 
stock; and 25 shares of Sodexho Marriott Services, Inc. common stock (after 
giving effect to a one-for-four reverse stock split). These new securities 
are expected to begin trading on a "when issued" basis on the New York Stock 
Exchange on March 23, 1998, with the following ticker symbols:



                                           "When-Issued"
Security                                   Ticker Symbol
- --------                                   -------------
                                           
"New Marriott International, Inc.   
- ---------------------------------
Common Stock                                  MAR wi
Class A Common Stock                          MAR-A wi

Sodexho Marriott Service, Inc.
- ------------------------------
Common Stock                                  SDH wi


"Regular way" trading for the new securities is expected to begin on 
March 30, 1998.

                                      ###

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. is a leading worldwide hospitality company, with 
nearly 4,600 operating units in the United States and 53 other countries and 
territories. Major businesses include hotels operated and franchised under 
the Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Courtyard, Residence Inn, Fairfield, TownePlace 
Suites, Renaissance, New World and Ramada International brands; vacation club 
(timeshare) resorts; food service and facilities management for clients in 
business, education, and health care; senior living communities and services; 
and food service distribution. The company is headquartered in Washington, 
D.C. and has approximately 195,000 employees. In fiscal year 1997, Marriott 
International reported total sales of $12.0 billion.

Contact: Tom Marder (301) 380-2553