Marriott International's "special corporate rates" for 2011 are "running up at a high-single digit rate over 2010," said CFO Carl Berquist

, noting that "roughly two-thirds" of those negotiations are complete. Berquist said fourth quarter 2010 corporate room nights at company-operated Marriott Hotels & Resorts branded properties increased 16 percent year over, and added that corporate customers "tell us that they expect to be traveling more in 2011." For group business, December room rates rose about 5 percent and new bookings made during the fourth quarter for 2011 jumped 21 percent. "While still lagging the transient recovery, group business continues to improve with significant short-term demand," Berquist said. "The booking window has not lengthened but we are already seeing price improvement." Marriott reported fourth quarter net income of $173 million, up from $106 million the year before.