Local Marriott Hotels Join to Give Back to the Community

GREENBELT, Md.--(Business Wire)--
Last week, associates from Marriott hotels around the globe showed their "spirit
to serve" by donating one day of their time and talents to a charitable cause on
Spirit to Serve Our Communities Day. Locally, hotels were also participating.
The Greenbelt Marriott hotel took "spirit to serve" to a new height by
developing charitable events every day of the week, where their associates lent
a helping hand to a variety of causes that helped the local community.

"With the economy in a slump and unemployment rising, we know there is so much
more need today than in the past," explains Robert M. Allen, general manager of
the Greenbelt Marriott. "So this year we expanded our efforts to include daily
opportunities to help those in need."

A committee made up of hotel associates began planning months ago how the hotel
would give back to its community. The result was a week of opportunities, with
the highlight being Wednesday, May, 13, when associates gathered at the
Hyattsville SHARE Food Network, a food distribution center, and teamed up with
associates from Marriott`s University of Maryland University College Inn and
Conference Center to box and bag food to be distributed to needy families
throughout the DC area.

SHARE Food Network distributes high-quality affordable and nutritious food as a
way to build community and strengthen families. In the DC metropolitan area,
more than 10,000 food packages are distributed every month, hundreds of
volunteer service hours are generated and more than 300 organizations partner
with SHARE by donating time and resources.

In addition to the SHARE Food Network, associates of the Greenbelt Marriott also
donated children`s books, toys, and canned and non-perishable food items that
were distributed to various local charities. Associates also donated clothing
for Dress for Success, a charity providing clothing for women re-entering the
workforce, and supplied and packed care packages for solders in Iraq. Drop-off
boxes for these items were stationed in the hotel lobby throughout the week
where hotel guests and the public also donated. Also last week, managers joined
students at Springhill Lake Elementary School to speak to them about the
hospitality industry and the endless career possibilities that exist. Hotel
managers described the presentation as "very fun, informative and memorable."

"With 150 associates in our hotel, we are in a unique position to really have an
impact on the groups that we are trying to help," says Mr. Allen. "Our
associates traditionally are very generous with their time and resources, but
even if every employee only donated one can of food, that`s a total of 150 cans
and that makes a difference."

The Greenbelt Marriott received the Marriott 2007 Hotel of the Year award for
all of North America`s full-service Marriott hotels. The Greenbelt hotel is
conveniently located off I-95 and I-495 and is nearby Washington, DC, Baltimore,
MD, and within a two mile radius of the Metro subway system. This hotel in
Prince George`s County boasts 14 meeting rooms and 10,000 square feet of event
space. The hotel`s 284 guest rooms were recently renovated in August of 2008,
offering the latest in-room technology.

Remey Communications
Sandra Remey, 301-929-3554
Cell: 301-467-9024

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