Press Release: Marriott International, Inc.
October 10, 2000
WASHINGTON, DC -- Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) said yesterday that, for the second year in a row, the
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has ranked Marriott first among the eleven hospitality
companies on the civil rights organization's annual report on the lodging industry.
In a press conference held this morning at NAACP headquarters in Baltimore, NAACP President Kweisi Mfume said that
Marriott had earned a grade of ``B'' (3.0 out of 4.0) for its continued industry leadership in several diversity-related
areas, including board membership, supplier diversity, franchising and the hiring, retention and promotion of minorities.
Since 1997, when the NAACP began issuing the annual hospitality industry report card, no other company has topped
the list more than once.
Citing reasons for Marriott's lead ranking in this year's survey, Mr. Mfume said: ``While there is still a great
deal of work to be done in the lodging industry, Marriott has already laid out a plan for success in this area,
one that reflects its recognition of the value of the African-American consumer in this business. If I've got a
choice among hotels in cities where I have to visit, I'm going to stay at Marriott.''
J.W. Marriott, Jr., Marriott International chairman and chief executive officer, said, ``Here in the United States,
and in all of our properties worldwide, we at Marriott see diversity as not only the right policy, but also as
a source of our competitive edge. Diversity makes us a stronger company.''
The Marriott International franchise network included, as of March 2000, 114 minority-owned franchised properties,
of which 10 are African-American- owned. In 1995, Marriott created the Minority Franchise Outreach Program, partnering
with organizations such as the National Association of Black Accountants and the International Franchise Association
to proactively seek and identify additional franchise candidates. The number of minority- and women-owned franchises
in the Marriott network has more than doubled over the past four years.
In 1998, Marriott broadened its supplier diversity initiative, committing that at least $250 million be spent with
minority suppliers by year-end 2001. The company initiated a second-tier supplier diversity program, through which
Marriott's major suppliers are asked to spend at least five percent with minority vendors, in 1999. In addition,
Marriott continues to partner with a variety of minority business organizations, including the National Minority
Supplier Development Council and local minority chambers of commerce nationwide.
With a 59 percent minority workforce, Marriott International's management is 24 percent minority, as is 11.2 percent
of the company's senior management. Marriott International is cited frequently as being one of the best companies
for minorities to work for in America by such magazines as Fortune, Latina Style, and Hispanic Business.
Marriott International, Inc. is a leading worldwide hospitality company with over 2,000 operating units in the
United States and 58 other countries and territories. Marriott Lodging operates and franchises hotels under the
Marriott, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Ramada
International brand names; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through
its ExecuStay by Marriott division, and operates conference centers. Other Marriott businesses include senior living
communities and services, wholesale food distribution, procurement services and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company
LLC. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has approximately 151,000 employees. In fiscal year
1999, Marriott International reported systemwide sales of $17.7 billion. For more information or for reservations,
please visit us at www.marriott.com.
SOURCE: Marriott International, Inc.