ORLANDO, FLORIDA – January 7, 2009 − Marriott Golf, one of the world’s premier golf operators, today announced the successful completion of the Company’s 2008 environmental program, as Camelback Golf Club in Scottsdale, AZ – the original Marriott Golf managed property – became Marriott’s 25th golf property to become a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.
The Marriott Golf environmental program, which was announced in March of 2008 and now includes all golf properties throughout North America and one signature property in the Caribbean, further positions the Company as the industry’s premier “green” golf management organization, while reinforcing Marriott International’s worldwide commitment to environmental consciousness.
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 many areas including Environmental Planning, Wildlife & Habitat Management, Outreach & Education, Chemical Use Reduction & Safety, Water Conservation, and Water Quality Management.
For a look behind the scenes at the Audubon Certification process and the vision behind the program, click here.
“It is only fitting that our original golf property, Camelback Golf Club, is the final location to achieve certification, completing our environmental program goal for 2008,” said Robert Waller, Senior Director of Grounds, Marriott Golf. “We are extremely proud to be part of Marriott’s worldwide green initiative, and equally excited about our leadership position in promoting golf and the environment.”
Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries for golf courses, which are endorsed by the United States Golf Association, provide information and guidance to help golf courses preserve and enhance wildlife habitat, and protect natural resources. Each of these properties have achieved certification through a variety of methods, including the development of water conservation plans; converting formerly managed turf into wildlife habitat; constructing nesting boxes for native birds; the creation of butterfly gardens, and much more.
“Marriott Golf’s success with this Audubon Certification mandate program is unprecedented in the golf industry and speaks to the level of commitment that the Company is making to help preserve and protect the environment,” said Kevin Fletcher, executive director of Audubon International. “This program directly enables golf courses to protect the environment by improving the quality of land, water, and air, along with conserving natural resources and protecting wildlife habitats. These proven environmental management practices will help preserve the natural heritage of the game of golf for many generations to come.”
As a result, the following Marriott Golf properties are now Audubon Certified:
Camelback Golf Club
Scottsdale, AZ
Cattails Golf Club
Kingsport, TN
Crane’s Landing Golf Club
Lincolnshire, IL
Desert Springs Golf Resort
Palm Desert, CA
Doral Golf Resort & Spa
Miami, FL
The Frog Golf Club
Villa Rica, GA
Grande Pines Golf Club
Orlando, FL
Grande Vista Golf Club
Orlando, FL
Griffin Gate Golf Club
Lexington, KY
Hawk’s Landing Golf Club
Orlando, FL
Renaissance Vinoy Resort
St. Petersburg, FL
The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Creighton Farms
Aldie, VA
The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Grande Lakes, Orlando
Orlando, FL
Marriott International has been actively involved in energy conservation since the 1980’s, and over the last decade launched environmental clean-up projects around the world, replaced 450,000 light bulbs with fluorescent lighting, introduced linen reuse programs, and installed 400,000 low-flow showerheads and toilets at its hotels worldwide. Recently, Marriott’s headquarters in Bethesda, along with its timeshare division based in Orlando, Fla., replaced more than 2.5 million pieces of Styrofoam and plastic utensils with those made of potato (“SpudWare™”), sugar cane and cornstarch, all fully biodegradable within an average of 100 days. These industry-leading efforts have been recognized by the EPA, who awarded Marriott with its 2008 Sustained Excellence award and placed the ENERGY STAR® label on more than 200 of its hotels (the most of any hotel company).
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:
Catherine Leitner/Michele Kruchkowski
Tel: (301) 380-4220/(732) 469-5700
E-mail: catherine.leitner@marriott.com/mkruchkowski@mastrocomm.com
