Marriott Hotels International has signed a worldwide partnership agreement with Toro, the world’s leading supplier of specialist irrigation and turf maintenance products.
Marriott Golf, the golf management division of Marriott International, Inc., currently manages 60 golf courses at 45 facilities in 14 countries, offering more than 1,000 holes of championship golf. Marriott has been managing golf operations since 1970 and is currently the largest resort golf operator in the both the United Kingdom and the United States.
With sales of $1.8 billion in 2006, Toro is committed to providing environmentally responsible products of customer-valued quality and innovation. Since 1914, the company has built a tradition of excellence around a number of strong brands that serve a customer base that includes golf course superintendents, groundskeepers, sports field managers, landscape and irrigation contractors, fruit and vegetable growers, and homeowners.
Building on the strong relationship the two companies share in key golf markets, Toro will now become preferred supplier to all existing and future Marriott golf properties outside the United States and Canada until at least 2012.
Commenting on the agreement Stephen Follett, director of golf operations, Marriott UK said, “Marriott is the largest golf resort operator in the world and it’s essential that all our properties are maintained to the highest possible standards. Toro is well known throughout the world as the leading supplier of quality golf course maintenance equipment, and we look forward to seeing all our courses benefit from this partnership in the future.”
“This is a significant step in our partnership engaging Toro to maintain and develop its world-class golf resorts across existing and emerging international golf markets,” said Andy Brown, Toro Corporate Accounts Manager for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Announcing the deal at the KPMG Golf Business Forum in Budapest, Hungary on 17th May, he added, “Marriott demands the highest standards in irrigation and turf care and appreciates the benefits of Toro’s experience, expertise and quality of service. As a partner, we are a comprehensive resource working at every level of the business, from corporate strategic planning to professional service at the local level via our network of 107 international distributors.”
The partnership agreement means that Marriott International’s existing 28 golf properties outside the USA and Canada, plus all new developments worldwide, will benefit from the latest Toro technology and support to ensure the highest standards both on the golf course and around resort and residential landscapes.
Marriott’s portfolio of world-class international golf resorts includes 10 properties in the UK, plus leading resorts in Spain, Portugal, Scotland, Ireland and Egypt.
Marriott Golf www.marriottgolf.com
The Toro Company www.thetorocompany.com