EXHIBIT 99





[Sodexho Marriott Services, Inc. Company Logo]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   Media Relations:
                                        Stacy Hade      (301) 987-4352
                                        Investor Relations:
                                        Jim Duke        (301) 987-4333


                      SODEXHO MARRIOTT SERVICES ANNOUNCES
                        RETIREMENT OF DIVISION PRESIDENT

         HEALTH CARE PRESIDENT ANTHONY ALIBRIO RETIRES AFTER 36 YEARS;
          VETERAN DIVISION EXECUTIVE RICHARD MACEDONIA NAMED SUCCESSOR


GAITHERSBURG,  MD, November 29, 2000 - Sodexho  Marriott  Services,  Inc. (NYSE:
SDH) announced today that Anthony (Tony) Alibrio,  president of Sodexho Marriott
Health Care Services,  will retire next year following a  distinguished  36-year
career with Sodexho  Marriott  Services and its predecessor  companies.  Richard
(Dick)  Macedonia,  who currently serves as vice president of operations for the
eastern region,  will  transition  into the role of division  president in March
2001.

Alibrio  joined the company in 1964 as a unit manager and moved  steadily up the
ranks.  He was named  president of Health Care Services and a corporate  officer
for Marriott  International  in 1990.  With the creation of Sodexho  Marriott in
March 1998 through the merger of Marriott  Management Services and Sodexho North
America, Alibrio became president of the new company's Health Care division.

"Tony  Alibrio  is an  icon  in our  industry.  He and  his  team  have  brought
tremendous success to Sodexho Marriott  Service's Health Care division,  serving
more than a thousand clients and becoming the undisputed  industry leader," said
Michel Landel, president and CEO of Sodexho Marriott Services.

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SODEXHO MARRIOTT ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT-PAGE 2 OF 2

"I have  achieved  all I've ever  dreamed  of  achieving  in my career  and look
forward to enjoying  hours of free time to spend with my family and for pursuing
the off-work interests I enjoy," said Alibrio. "The Health Care division will be
in good hands under Dick Macedonia's leadership."

Macedonia  began his career  with the  company in 1968 as a unit  manager in the
Higher Education  division and joined the Health Care division in 1975. Prior to
assuming his current position,  he held other positions in Health Care including
district  manager,  vice  president  of  marketing  and  sales,  as well as vice
president of business development.

"We are  delighted to promote Dick  Macedonia  into this role,"  Landel said. "I
have tremendous  confidence that under Dick's leadership the division will enjoy
continued  success  because  throughout  his  career  he  has  gained  a  strong
reputation  for his  knowledge  of the  industry,  his focus on our  clients and
customers, his sales experience, and his ability to build strong teams."


Sodexho Marriott  Services,  Inc. is the largest provider of food and facilities
management in North America, with $4.7 billion in annual sales. Sodexho Marriott
Services offers a variety of innovative  outsourcing  solutions,  including food
service, housekeeping,  grounds keeping, plant operations and maintenance, asset
and materials  management,  and laundry  services to  corporations,  health care
facilities,  schools, universities and colleges, and remote sites. Headquartered
in Gaithersburg, MD, the company has 111,000 employees at 5,000 locations across
the U.S. and Canada.

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