MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL NAMED OFFICIAL LODGING SUPPLIER OF 2002 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES AND U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL NAMED OFFICIAL LODGING SUPPLIER OF 2002 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES AND U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Jan. 19, 2000 - Marriott International, Inc. (MAR / NYSE), a worldwide leader in the hospitality industry, was named the Official Lodging Supplier of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games and the 2000, 2002 and 2004 U.S. Olympic Teams.
The announcement, made today during the International Sport Summit at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel in Manhattan, included Marriott Chairman and CEO J.W. Marriott, Jr.; Mitt Romney, President and CEO of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC); and Dave Ogrean, Deputy Executive Director, Marketing of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).
The designation as the Official Lodging Supplier of SLOC and the USOC is the largest sports sponsorship by Marriott in the company's history. The multi-year, multi-million dollar agreement will provide funding and in-kind services to support the operation of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. Marriott will also lend its support to the athletes of America's Team as they prepare to compete in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia; the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City; and the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
"The Olympic Games provide a tremendous opportunity for Marriott International as a new marketing effort to reinforce our growing presence around the world," stated J.W. Marriott, Jr. "As a company which strives to offer world-class customer service, we are excited to welcome the Olympic athletes, their families and friends, and spectators from all nations to our portfolio of hotels."
"On behalf of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee, I am particularly pleased to recognize the support of Marriott International for the 2002 Games," said Mitt Romney. "The Marriott family has a long history in Utah of contributing to the community. Bill Marriott, Sr., was born and raised in Utah and has passed on his love of the state to his sons, Bill and Dick. In turn, they have continued that generosity to the state and its institutions. I certainly add them to my list of champions."
"We are proud to welcome Marriott International to the growing family of corporate partners who have pledged their support to the United States Olympic Committee and the athletes of America's Team," added Dave Ogrean.
Marriott is a leading hotel company and the largest hotelier in the Wasatch Front Range including the cities of Salt Lake City, Park City, Provo and Ogden. Marriott's presence spans 25 hotels and resorts including five full-service hotels, six Residence Inn hotels, five Courtyard hotels including one to open in May in Layton, seven Fairfield Inn hotels and one TownePlace Suites. Marriott also operates two vacation ownership resorts in Park City, the Marriott Summit Watch and Marriott Mountainside, which will open in the spring. Marriott recently opened the Park City Marriott in August 1999 and has a 370-room full-service hotel under construction and scheduled to open in late 2000.
In its agreement with SLOC and the USOC, Marriott International will be represented by the following brands: Marriott Hotels, Resorts and Suites; Courtyard by Marriott; Residence Inn by Marriott; Renaissance Hotels, Resorts and Suites; Fairfield Inn by Marriott; Marriott Vacation Club International; SpringHill Suites by Marriott; and TownePlace Suites by Marriott.
Marriott International becomes the 25th corporate partner of the Olympic Properties of the United States (OPUS) - the joint marketing venture between the Salt Lake Organizing Committee and the U.S. Olympic Committee. A complete list of OPUS sponsors and suppliers is available on the SLOC web site at www.slc2002.org and the USOC web site at www.usoc.org.
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MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. is a leading worldwide hospitality company with over 1,900 operating units in the United States and 56 other countries and territories. Marriott Lodging operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Ramada International brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership (timeshare) resorts under the Marriott, Ritz-Carlton and Horizons brands; operates executive apartments and conference centers; and provides furnished corporate housing through its ExecuStay by Marriott division. Other Marriott businesses include senior living communities and services, wholesale food distribution, and procurement services. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has approximately 140,000 employees. In fiscal year 1998, Marriott International reported total sales of $8.0 billion.