Forbes has recognized Marriott International, Inc. as one of the "400 Best Big Companies in America." Marriott was the only lodging company named to the list, which identifies the best of the biggest publicly traded companies in America.

The list was compiled by screening more than 1,000 corporations with $1 billion or more in revenues. Companies were assigned to one of 26 industry categories and ranked against their industry peers based on five-year and 12- month sales and earnings growth and total return to shareholders. The ranking system also included consensus forecasts for long-term earnings growth and debt-to-capital ratios. Using these individual rankings, each company was given a composite score and an overall rank within its industry. The companies were also evaluated on accounting and governance scores.

The list appears in the Jan. 8 issue of Forbes and can be found on http://www.forbes.com/lists.

As a growing segment of the broader vacation home sector, fractional ownership has achieved an initial base of awareness in the U.S. according to the Measuring Luxury Fractional Ownership Awareness study conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers on behalf of The Ritz-Carlton Club, Interval International, and Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc. The study reveals almost half of all affluent U.S. households (41%) have heard of fractional ownership, and one-sixth of affluent households indicate they may consider purchasing at a fractional ownership resort within the next five years. More here.

At the St. Regis, where a two-bedroom hotel suite may cost more than $2,500 a night, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. has sold about half of its 22 four-week time-share blocks for as much as $750,000. Owners pay $17,500 a year for maintenance, fees and taxes.

Hilton Hotels Corp. is selling shares of 78 units at its flagship hotel near Rockefeller Center for as much as $70,000 for seven days a year.

Amazed? Head here.