WASHINGTON -- Marriott International, Inc. has become a
major sponsor of the National Urban League's Black
Executive Exchange Program (BEEP), which sends business
leaders to historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs)
to lecture about practical workplace issues.
BEEP
is one of a number of programs that Marriott supports as
part of a five-year strategic partnership that Marriott
entered into with the National Urban League last year.
As part of the agreement, Marriott is committed to
sponsoring recruitment, education and career development
programs. The National Urban League, which has
selected Marriott as its preferred lodging provider, will
help the company seek and identify new multicultural talent.
"Our sponsorship of BEEP, as part of
our overall relationship with the National Urban League, is
consistent with our commitment to diversity initiatives,"
said David Sampson, Marriott International's senior vice
president of diversity initiatives. "I am proud that
we are providing resources to expose young people to role
models who will make a real impact on their career choices
and their lives."
Two years ago, Marriott International Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer J.W. Marriott, Jr. joined the board
of trustees of the National Urban League. As part of the
BEEP program, corporate participants conduct workshops on
management issues, such as information technology,
e-commerce and networking. The National Urban League
provides BEEP role models to four-year HBCUs, as well as the
University of Nebraska at Omaha. The program has
touched more than 750,000 students in 30 subject areas.
Participants have come from more 650 corporations,
government agencies and professional organizations.
"In celebrating our 35th year of the
BEEP program, we salute the universities, the corporations
and more importantly the individuals that make this program
an overwhelming success," said Marc Morial, President and
CEO,
National Urban League. "BEEP has been and will remain
an integral component of the League's education agenda,
helping to advance the achievement of college students
beyond the classroom and into the business world. The
National Urban League salutes Marriott International for its
continued support. We also thank Marriott for sharing
its best practices with tomorrow's future business leaders."
Specifics of the strategic
relationship between Marriott and the National Urban League
include:
* Marriott will participate in the National Urban League
Convention Career Fair.
* National Urban League will coordinate a joint Hospitality
Career Day for high school students.
* Marriott will sponsor National Urban League activities
during major hotel openings (e.g., tours and job postings).
* National Urban League will identify points of contacts and
candidates for employment opportunities.
* National Urban League will promote Marriott as an employer
of choice to its membership.
* Marriott will provide internships to National Urban League
clients.
* Marriott-branded hotels will be considered as the first
hotel option for all National Urban League board, regional
and key meetings.
* National Urban League will identify and recommend potential
minority vendors to Marriott for consideration for realistic
opportunities in Marriott's Supplier Diversity Program.
In recent years, Marriott has received honors for its
diversity efforts from numerous organizations, including
Latina Style, DiversityInc., Working Mother and Essence
magazines, as well as the NAACP, National Minority Business
Council and Black Meetings & Tourism. Marriott
International, the first hospitality company in the world to
establish a formal supplier diversity program, spent more
than $150 million in 2003 with more than 10,000 minority-
and women-owned businesses.
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC.
is a leading worldwide hospitality company with over 2,700
lodging properties in the United States and 68 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 Ramada International brand names;
develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the
Marriott Vacation Club International, Horizons, The
Ritz-Carlton Club and Marriott Grand Residence Club brands;
operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished
corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division;
and operates conference centers. The company is
headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has approximately
128,000 employees and was ranked as the lodging industry's
most admired company and one of the best places to work for
by FORTUNE (R). In fiscal year 2003, Marriott
International reported sales from continuing operations of
$9 billion. For more information or reservations,
please visit the web site at
http://www.marriott.com.
SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.
Web Site:
http://www.marriottnewsroom.com
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