14th Marriott Golf Managed Property To Become Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary As Part Of Company’s Successful Green Program
ORLANDO, Fla. – September 11, 2008…Marriott Golf, one of the world’s premier golf operators, today announced that Royal St. Kitts Golf Club, located at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort in Basseterre, St. Kitts, has become the first golf course in the Caribbean to achieve certification through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses. This marks the 14th Marriott Golf managed property to achieve Audubon Certification, as part of the Company’s green initiatives. By the end of 2008, 25 managed golf properties in North America and the Caribbean will become Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries.
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.
As part of the property’s overall green efforts, Royal St. Kitts Golf Club has implemented a variety of programs to demonstrate its commitment to environmental stewardship, including the installation of Seashore Paspalum during golf course construction. Seashore Paspalum, a specialized turfgrass that utilizes alternative water sources, such as seawater/brackish, enables Royal St. Kitts Golf Club to use a combination of storm, recycled, and seawater to irrigate the golf course, therefore conserving natural water supplies.
“The golf team on property has worked diligently over the past few months to meet the Audubon requirements, and we are thrilled to become the first golf course in the Caribbean to be awarded this prestigious certification,” said Steve Williams, Golf Course Superintendent, Royal St. Kitts Golf Club. “Utilizing Seashore Paspalum turfgrass has been a huge success and truly encompasses our commitment to enhance and protect the environment and preserve the natural heritage of the game of golf.”
The championship Royal St. Kitts Golf Club features a magnificent 18 hole layout that has 125 irrigated acres of lush grass, allowing golfers to play two holes on the Caribbean Sea and three holes on the Atlantic Ocean. Recently redesigned by famed Canadian architect Thomas McBroom, this extraordinary course boasts 10 holes with water hazards, 80 bunkers, and a multitude of coconut palm trees along the Atlantic Ocean, as well as a “private country club” style clubhouse. The signature 15th hole, a 166 yard downhill par 3, features stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and neighboring islands including Nevis, Anguilla, St. Martin, and Antigua.
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, Southeast Asia, and now the Caribbean, have 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
