Today, 90 percent of Marriott hotels have undergone energy efficiency improvements, such as lighting replacements that conserve energy usage by more than 30 percent, electronic thermostats, new brand signs with LED technology, laundry ozone systems, and central plant upgrades and recommissioning. These efforts have helped the company earn the ENERGY STAR rating for 27 of its top-performing hotels, making Marriott the hospitality industry's leader in energy management. 

Marriott, an ENERGY STAR partner since 2001, has embarked on an ambitious, companywide mission to improve the environment and control costs in partnership with its hotel owners and franchisees.  As part of the program, all hotels receive the company's Energy Conservation Program Resource Guide, and all hotel engineers and general managers have completed the company's Energy Conservation Program training. 

�For Marriott, protecting the environment through sound energy management is a major priority,� said Pat Maher, senior vice president of engineering. �As an ENERGY STAR partner, we value superior energy performance in our organization � it�s good for our bottom line and good for the environment. We have found that participating in ENERGY STAR just makes good business sense.�

The Partner of the Year Award is given to a variety of organizations to recognize their efforts to use energy efficiently in facility operations and to integrate energy efficiency into overall organizational strategy. The award winners are selected from thousands of organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program. 

�As an ENERGY STAR partner, Marriott has distinguished itself by demanding superior energy performance in their business and seeing real results,� said Kathleen Hogan, director of EPA's Climate Protection Partnerships Division. "Through ENERGY STAR, these Partners of the Year are leading a nationwide effort to protect our environment through improved energy efficiency."

ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce air pollution through increased energy efficiency. The program offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 7,000 organizations have become ENERGY STAR partners and are committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes and businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937). 

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE:MAR) is a leading lodging company with more than 2,600 lodging properties in the United States and 65 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 Bulgari 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.