One Of Eight Marriott Golf Properties To Become Audubon Certified As Part Of Company’s Recent Mandate Program
ORLANDO, Fla. – May 20, 2008… Marriott Golf, one of the world’s premier golf operators, today announced the next property to become Audubon Certified, as part of the Company’s efforts to ensure that all managed golf properties in North America and the Caribbean become Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries by the end of 2008. Grande Vista Golf Club, a nine-hole golf course, 32-acre practice facility and part of The Faldo Golf Institute in Orlando, Fla., becomes one of eight Marriott Golf properties that have achieved certification through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for golf courses.
Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries, which enable golf facilities to protect the environment by enhancing precious natural areas and wildlife habitats, are part of a systemwide commitment by Marriott International, Inc. (MAR:NYSE) to promote environmental stewardship. In order to achieve Audubon Certification, a golf facility is required to demonstrate that it is maintaining the highest degree of environmental quality in several areas including Environmental Planning, Wildlife & Habitat Management, Outreach and Education, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation, and Water Quality Management.
Surrounded by towering pines, magnificent oaks and beautiful cypress trees, Grande Vista works closely with the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program to preserve the diverse wildlife, flourishing palmettos, and exotic wetlands of the property, providing an ambiance that is unlike any other.
Throughout the past year, Grande Vista has implemented a variety of programs to demonstrate its commitment to environmental stewardship. Highlighting the property’s efforts is the creation of a nature trail that runs throughout the property and hosts a number of native Floridian plants. Each plant is identified with a post that describes the plant in details and serves to educate guests. Moreover, Grande Vista has worked to provide habitats along streams and lakes that provide food and shelter for wildlife, and 35 acres of habitat area has been protected throughout the property.
The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for golf courses, endorsed by the United States Golf Association, provides information and guidance to help golf courses preserve and enhance wildlife habitat, and protect natural resources. Golf courses from the United States, Africa, Australia, Canada, Central America, Europe, and Southeast Asia have also achieved certification in the program.
About Marriott Golf
Marriott Golf manages 61 golf courses at 45 locations in 13 countries, offering more than 1,000 holes of championship golf. Marriott has been managing golf operations since 1970 and is one of the world’s premier golf operators. Marriott provides golf management and consulting services to a variety of operational environments including resort, private club, daily fee, golf school and franchises. For more information, visit www.marriottgolf.com.
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) is a leading lodging company with more than 3,000 lodging properties in the United States and 66 other countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Bulgari brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club, Horizons by Marriott Vacation Club, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Grand Residences by Marriott brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers. The company is headquartered in Bethesda, Md., and had approximately 151,000 employees at 2007 year-end. It is ranked as the lodging industry’s most admired company and one of the best companies to work for by FORTUNE®, and has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the 2007 Sustained Excellence Award and Partner of the Year since 2004. In fiscal year 2007, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $13 billion. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com.
Contact:
Michele Kruchkowski (mkruchkowski@mastrocomm.com)
Stefanie Schiavello (stefanie@mastrocomm.com)
Mastro Communications, Inc. @ 732-469-5700
