21st Marriott Golf Managed Property Awarded Prestigious Certification; Company’s Audubon Mandate Program Continues To Achieve Success
ORLANDO, Fla. – December 3, 2008…Marriott Golf, one of the world’s premier golf operators, today announced that Westfields Golf Club, in Clifton, Va., is the latest property to achieve certification through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses. This marks the 21st Marriott Golf managed property to achieve Audubon Certification, as part of the Company’s recent mandate program, which ensures that 25 managed golf properties in North America and the Caribbean become Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries by the end of 2008.
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 efforts to become Audubon Certified, Westfields Golf Club increased the size of its native areas by eight acres and reduced 20 acres from its irrigation system, reducing the amount of water and chemical usage in those areas. In addition, extensive habitat was added along streams and ponds to provide food and shelter for the wildlife on the course, which includes fox and deer.
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 achieved certification in the program.
This 18-hole Westfields Golf Club delivers a consistent challenge to everyone who steps on the tee. Carved through natural wetlands, rolling hills, and majestic beech and oak trees, Westfields offers golfers a pure golf setting that is virtually free from distractions. Westfields Golf Club is located 25 miles west of Washington, D.C., and near the elegant Westfields Marriott.
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
