JW Marriott Bogota Celebrates Grand Opening – Marriott’s First Luxury Hotel in Colombia

Marriott International, Inc. officially opened the company’s first JW Marriott luxury hotel today in Bogota, Colombia.  On-hand for the celebration were President Alvaro Uribe of Colombia, Rob Steigerwald, chief operations officer for the Southern region of the Americas for Marriott International and Ricardo Poma, president of Real Hotels & Resorts and Grupo Poma.  The 264-room JW Marriott Bogota is operated under a franchise agreement with Real Hotels & Resorts of El Salvador. (PHOTO: Left to right - Rob Steigerwald, Marriott International; Dr. Alvaro Uribe, President of Colombia; Ricardo Poma, President of Grupo Poma)

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The Marriott Ice Cream Adventure

This week, Marriott associates in the United Kingdom found a sweet way to say "thank you" to customers for their business, driving an ice cream truck around the UK to visit over 25 corporate and intermediary clients over a 3-day period. It is estimated that we will reach around 1000 customers during the adventure!

Connect with elizabeth.caminiti@marriott.com

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The Marriott Fish & Chip Challenge

50 Marriott Chefs Competed in Culinary Challenge; Winning Recipe to be Rolled Out to All  Marriott Hotels in the United Kingdom

What makes the perfect fish and chips? Over 50 chefs from Marriott Hotels and Renaissance Hotels throughout the United Kingdom took to answer this challenge; competing to create the best fish and chips recipe during Marriott’s culinary cook-off this summer. In an effort to serve up the best fish and chips and set the standard for this UK favorite, Marriott used the search as the opportunity to find the best recipe being used by its chefs. The winning recipe will now be served in all Marriott Hotels throughout the United Kingdom starting this fall.

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POSTCARD FROM HAWAII - Making a difference one step at a time

Aloha everyone! Earlier this summer, 1,361 Marriott Resorts Hawaii associates and I participated in the 32nd annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk, sponsored by the Hawaii Hotel & Lodging Association (HHLA). It was exhilarating to be a part of such a meaningful event and we all felt proud to contribute to such a worthy cause.

Although our individual hotels do a good amount of outreach throughout the year to help our neighbors, this was a real concerted group effort and it paid off. We exceeded our own expectations and raised a whopping $93,571! The event overall raised a total of $901,029 and boasted an impressive total of 9,111 walkers on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai and the Big Island. The money generated will help more than 200 of Hawaii’s charities. 
 
This year’s theme was “A Tradition of Kokua,” referring to the 32 years that the charity has been looking out for local communities. The Charity Walk is one of the largest single-day fundraisers in the state, providing an opportunity for the visitor industry to collectively give back to Hawaii.

Since its inception in 1978, the Charity Walk has raised over $22 million for Hawaii’s charities. Mahalo to everyone who participated! Way to demonstrate our Spirit to Serve.

Aloha,
Chris Tatum
Vice President of North Asia, Hawaii and South Pacific

Connect with nina.herrera-davila@marriott.com

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Bridges Celebrates 20th Anniversary of the ADA

The Marriott Foundation Bridges is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) today and the opportunities it has created for Bridges students – youth, ages 17-22, with mental and physical challenges.

“The ADA opened the doors to allow our program to provide the services and life skills for youth with disabilities” said Tad Asbury, vice president and executive director of Marriott Foundation Bridges. “As a result, we have helped more than 12,000 kids find meaningful employment and put them on the path that leads to increased self confidence and in some cases, independence.”

The Bridges program recently celebrated its 20-year anniversary. Through donations and more than 3,000 employers nationwide, it’s able to support kids like Jonathan Keepler of Atlanta, Ga. Listen to him tell his Bridges’ story.  

For more information visit, www.bridgesfoundation.org and read Mr. Marriott’s blog about the program’s success, Marriott on the Move.

Connect with felicia.mclemore@marriott.com.

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Marriott Guests Can Give Back with New Voluntourism Package

Marriott International is making it easier for guests to volunteer and support the local community while traveling for business or vacation. Beginning August 3rd, guests who book the “Spirit To Serve New Orleans” voluntourism package can partner with New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity or Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans, through the end of the year, to help rebuild homes hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina and provide food to families impacted by the Gulf oil spill. Rates start at $99.

“August 29th marks the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the oil spill has created a new challenge; but the city of New Orleans is resilient,” said Gil Zanchi, General Manager, New Orleans Marriott. “Thanks to great partners, we can extend our company’s ‘spirit to serve’ philosophy to our guests and provide the opportunity to make a difference while they’re visiting with us because there is still more to do.”

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POSTCARD FROM DUBAI - Hundreds Flock to JW Marriott Dubai’s Friday Triple Delight

Marhaba everyone! As many of you may know, Fridays are days off here in Dubai and a time when people like to go out and enjoy good family time. Finding a place where children are entertained as parents relax is not easy.  That is what inspired us to put together a special Friday brunch entertainment for the whole family - the Friday Triple Delight.

The idea is simple – guests have open access to three of our restaurants, Bamboo Lagoon, Hofbräuhaus and The Market Place where they can enjoy a diverse buffet ranging from Asian delights to hearty Bavarian specialties. For food lovers, what can be better than that?

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Marriott Leads the Industry with the First LEED Green Hotel Prototype

The Courtyard Charleston/Summerville in South Carolina will be the first hotel built using Marriott International’s (NYSE: MAR) green hotel prototype, in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC.)  This will dramatically accelerate the company’s goal to have 300 LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) hotels by 2015.  Marriott is the first in the hospitality industry to launch a green hotel prototype that has been pre-approved by USGBC as part of its LEED Volume program, meaning that any Marriott hotel that follows these plans will earn basic LEED certification, or possibly higher, upon USGBC final approval.

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Fairfield Inn & Suites Launches Small Business Road-to-Success Challenge – Offers $20,000 Grand Prize to Top Small Business Traveler

Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott is giving a boost to small business owners in the U.S. with the launch of the Small Business Road-to-Success Challenge on July 21, 2010. To nominate your small business (July 21 through August 20, 2010) visit www.fairfieldchallenge.com. Fairfield Inn & Suites will select 10 small business owners who will be awarded 15 free nights for the sole purpose of traveling around the country to build their business. After three months of working through their own set business challenges, one small business will be awarded a grand prize of $20,000 by the judging panel.

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Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld Offers Family Escape Package

Shamu Breakfast, Hands-On Pancake Making & Cookie Decorating Keep Kids Busy

School’s out and the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld is welcoming guests both young and young at heart. New activities, such as breakfast with Shamu, guarantee the kids will never be bored while the new Family Escape package keeps parents on budget with up to 69 percent savings. Starting at $109 per night,* the Family Escape features free kids meals for children 12 or younger throughout their entire stay** and an in-room movie night complete with movie rental, large pizza and two beverages. To ensure the children aren’t the only ones having fun, the offer includes a complimentary glass of champagne or sparkling cider for parents upon arrival and a 10 percent discount at the lavish nèu lotus spa to indulge in treatments such as the synchronized facial and foot massage or the four hands massage experience. 

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