Orlando, Florida – August 15, 2006 – Marriott Golf, the world’s largest resort golf management company, today announced that Mike Gaspard has been promoted to Head Golf Professional at JW Marriott Wildfire Golf Club, an upscale 36-hole golf facility in Northeast Phoenix featuring the Faldo Championship Course and the Palmer Signature Course.
In his new role, Gaspard will be responsible for overseeing all golf shop operations, retail merchandising, outings and tournament coordination. Gaspard has been a part of the Wildfire team since 2003, most recently serving as Golf Shop Manager. During his tenure as Golf Shop Manager, Marriott Golf recognized Wildfire Golf Club as the Organization’s Golf Facility of the Year in 2004, while Desert Ridge was acknowledged by Marriott International as Property of the Year. Prior to managing the golf shop, Gaspard served as Tournament Coordinator at Wildfire.
A graduate from University of Wisconsin-Madison, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Retail Management, Gaspard began his golf career as an Assistant Golf Professional in Scottsdale, Arizona. In this position, he had an assortment of responsibilities, which included the development of junior golf programs, inventory control, and teaching, while also playing an important role with the opening of a new clubhouse. Gaspard recently obtained his PGA Class A Certification.
About Marriott Golf
Marriott Golf currently manages 60 golf courses at 45 facilities in 14 countries, offering more than 1,000 holes of championship golf. Marriott has been managing golf operations since 1970 and is currently the largest resort golf operator in the United States. Marriott provides golf management and consulting services to a variety of operational environments including resort, private club, daily fee, golf school and franchises.
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE:MAR) is a leading lodging company with more than 2,600 lodging properties in the United States and 65 other countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, Renaissance, Bulgari, The Ritz-Carlton, Courtyard, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, TownePlace Suites, and Fairfield Inn brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club International, Horizons, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Marriott Grand Residence Club brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C. It is ranked as the lodging industry’s most admired company and one of the best places to work for by Fortune® magazine. In fiscal year 2004, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $10 billion, and the company had approximately 133,000 employees at year-end 2004. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com.
Contact:
Michele Kruchkowski
mkruchkowski@mastrocomm.com
Tiffany Berls
tberls@mastrocomm.com
Mastro Communications, Inc.
732-469-5700
