Company Press Release: Berlitz International, Inc.
May 10, 2000
PRINCETON, NJ -- Berlitz International, Inc. (NYSE: BTZ) and The Marketplace by Marriott, the procurement arm of
Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR), entered into a preferred vendor agreement for the provision of translation
and interpretation services, as well as language and cultural training.
According to the agreement, Berlitz GlobalNET, the translation services segment of Berlitz, will be the translation
vendor for Marriott International offices worldwide, providing localized versions of marketing materials and technical
documents including Marriott International brochures, press releases, hotel magazines, catalogs, and audio-visual
productions.
``Marriott International has a very enlightened view of the global citizen and how services around the globe should
be provided. They provide a consistently high quality message in the native language and culture of its customers
and employees. We are very pleased and honored to assist Marriott International achieve its communication goals,''
said Jim Lewis, Executive Vice President and COO of Berlitz GlobalNET.
In addition, Berlitz Language Services will provide language and cross- cultural training for Marriott International
employees around the world, who will also have access to self-study language courses and travel-related materials
from Berlitz Publishing.
``Language skills are a basic prerequisite for good customer service in the international hospitality industry.
Proper communication is the key to a guest's perception of good service; nuance whether in English or another language
can be achieved through training,'' said Mark W. Harris, Vice President of the North America Division of Berlitz
International. ``Berlitz Language Services is an ideal strategic partner for The Marketplace by Marriott with experience
and capabilities to provide customized language and cross-cultural training to hotel staff and management throughout
the world.''
``Berlitz International is the premiere language service in the world,'' said Ed Fuller, President and Managing
Director of International Lodging at Marriott International. ``The broad range of their services will contribute
immeasurably to our aggressive globalization program in which we plan to expand our presence to 70 countries in
the next few years.''
For more information about Berlitz please call Robert Minsky at 609-514-3008 or visit their Web site, www.berlitz.com.
For more information on The Marketplace by Marriott, please call toll-free 1-877-866-2753.
The Marketplace by Marriott® is the business launched by Marriott International to provide comprehensive, strategic,
``one-stop-shopping'' for hospitality procurement needs by offering access to Marriott's procurement expertise
and leverage on a variety of commodities and services to hotel owners and franchisees of both Marriott and non-Marriott
brands.
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE: MAR) is a leading worldwide hospitality company with over 2,000 operating units
in the United States and 55 other countries and territories. The company's lodging business operates and franchises
hotels under the Marriott, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill
Suites, Ramada International, and The Ritz-Carlton brand names. Marriott International also develops and operates
vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott, Ritz- Carlton and Horizons brands; operates senior living communities,
executive apartments, and conference centers; and provides furnished corporate housing through its ExecuStay by
Marriott division. Other Marriott businesses include wholesale food distribution and procurement services. The
company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has approximately 143,000 employees. In fiscal year 1999, Marriott
International reported total sales of $8.7 billion.
Berlitz International, Inc. has meant excellence in language services for over 120 years. Berlitz, and its franchisees,
have more than 450 locations in over 50 countries worldwide offering language instruction, cross-cultural training,
document translation, software localization and interpretation services. In addition, Berlitz offers a wide range
of publishing products such as dictionaries, phrase books, travel guides and self-study language instruction materials
including CD-ROMs and audiocassettes. For more information, please visit the Berlitz Web site at www.berlitz.com.
SOURCE: Berlitz International, Inc.