Marriott Vacation Club Resorts in Orlando and Palm Desert Named First Audubon International Green Resorts

SELKIRK, 2012-08-14 — /travelprnews.com/ — Marriott’s Grande Vista in Orlando, Fla., and Marriott’s Shadow Ridge in Palm Desert, Calif., are the first resorts to be designated as Green Resorts by Audubon International, an international conservation and environmental education organization. The Green Resorts designation recognizes properties that have been eco-rated by Audubon International’s Green Lodging Program and have achieved certification in at least one other Audubon International program, such as the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses.

Designation as a Green Resort is the culmination of Marriott Vacation Club’s larger Green Initiative which began at its corporate headquarters with continued roll-out to its resorts worldwide. In addition to these most recent steps, each Marriott Vacation Club resort has established its own “green team” which manages its environmental efforts.

In 2009, the brand demonstrated its continued commitment to green operations by eliminating more waste from landfills through implementing recycled key cards, pens and Forest Stewardship Council certified paper for guest arrival packets worldwide and most recently announced a soap recycling partnership with Clean the World at its resorts in North America. In 2011, Marriott Vacation Club committed to enroll all of its properties in Audubon International’s Green Lodging Program and will achieve full enrollment of its North American properties by the end of this year.

“We’re pleased to welcome these two Marriott Vacation Club properties as the first Green Resorts,” said Fredrik Realbuto, Director of the Audubon International Green Lodging Program. “Building on our long standing cooperative agreement, we are excited to continue working together to better protect and sustain our land, water, wildlife, and other natural resources,” said Realbuto.

“These two Green Resort designations affirm our long term commitment to green operations at our resorts and we’re thrilled to be recognized as the first recipients,” said Lee Cunningham, executive vice president and chief operating officer – North America and the Caribbean, Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation.

Marriott’s Grande Vista in Orlando is a two-hundred acre resort with 900 one, two, and three bedroom villas. Owners and guests enjoy luxurious accommodations and amenities as well as the Faldo Golf Institute, a 9-hole course with instructional facilities, and Marriott’s Grande Pines Golf Club, an 18-hole championship course. The resort offers a comprehensive staffed activities program for all ages. Marriott’s Grande Vista is a member of the Green Lodging Program, and the Faldo Golf Institute and Marriott’s Grande Pines Golf Club are members of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program.

With the magnificent Santa Rosa Mountains serving as a backdrop, Marriott’s Shadow Ridge offers a one-of-a-kind vacation experience in the heart of California’s Palm Desert. This sprawling, family-friendly resort features Nick Faldo’s first golf course designed in the United States. The resort is located approximately eight miles from Palm Springs and boasts many amenities including outdoor pools, a water slide and a kids splash zone; fitness center with steam room and sauna; grills and picnic areas; tennis courts; and an activities program for all ages. Marriott’s Shadow Ridge is a member of the Green Lodging Program and Marriott’s Shadow Ridge Golf Club is a member of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program.

“As an extension of Marriott Golf’s unwavering commitment to the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program, we are very pleased that Marriott’s Shadow Ridge and Marriott’s Grande Vista resorts, under the leadership of the Marriott Vacation Club brand, have become the first members of the Green Resorts Program,” said Bill Nault, vice president of golf operations, Marriott International/The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co., LLC.  “Taking sustainability and wildlife preservation beyond the golf course and extending our eco-practices across the landscape of an entire resort facility further validates Marriott Vacation Club’s dedication to environmental stewardship, and we hope this program becomes a model for all resorts worldwide.”

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About Audubon International
Audubon International is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to delivering high-quality environmental education and helping to implement sustainable natural resource management in all places where people help the environment where they live, work, and play. Through education, motivation, certification, and recognition, Audubon International educates people about the responsible management of land, water, wildlife, and other natural resources. Utilizing a set of award-winning environmental education and certification programs, Audubon International is able to positively impact the environment at all levels from individual property to entire communities.

About the Green Lodging Program
Audubon International’s Green Lodging Program recognizes lodging facilities that have met environmental best practice standards and have demonstrated a strong commitment to water quality, water conservation, waste minimization, resource conservation, and energy efficiency. In addition to a comprehensive site visit that is conducted during the certification process, lodging facilities receive personalized staff support and access to an extensive library to help further their efforts.  By assessing the extent of the environmental measures undertaken, participating lodging facilities can reduce environmental-related costs and gain a marketing advantage. For more information, please visit: www.auduboninternational.org/green-lodging

About the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program
Since 1991, Audubon International has been working to promote environmental education and stewardship in the game and on the course. Over 2,400 golf courses across the United States and in two dozen countries work with Audubon International through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses. This award winning education and certification program that helps golf courses protect our environment and preserve the natural heritage of the game of golf. By helping people enhance the valuable natural areas and wildlife habitats that golf courses provide, improve efficiency, and minimize potentially harmful impacts of golf course operations, the program serves as vital resource for golf courses. For more information, please visit: www.auduboninternational.org/acspgolf

About Marriott Vacation Club
Marriott Vacation Club is a global leader in vacation ownership with over 416,000 Owners, a diverse portfolio of 54 resorts and more than 11,700 timeshare villas throughout the U.S., Caribbean, Europe and Asia. For more information please visit www.marriottvacationclub.com or for nightly rentals visit www.marriott.com. Follow us on Twitter atwww.twitter.com/MarriottVacClub and find us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/marriottvacationclub.

Visit Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: VAC) for company information.

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