Alex Ahluwalia, Starr Pass General Manager, and Susan Miller, Starr Pass Director of Human Resources, accepted the Award for Diversity Excellence on Wednesday, June 4 in Washington, DC, where Marriott International is headquartered. This particular award was established in 2005 to honor Mr. Marriott's commitment to diversity in all aspects of the company ? from global workforce, to the owners, franchisees, customers, suppliers and communities.

Ahluwalia noted this award is truly a tribute to the resort's amazing staff, a culmination of so many wonderful backgrounds. He said, "Diversity is about diversity in fact, experiences, languages, food, music, and style. That said, guests' overall experience at Starr Pass is a combination of our associates' diverse backgrounds and styles of service, all hospitality focused."

Starr Pass continues to fully embrace Southern Arizona's rich culture by ensuring the resort provides all-inclusive environment for its associates, customers and community. The resort, one of the top in Marriott's Western Region, has achieved a remarkable 15.7 percent of its hotel spending with minority- and woman-owned suppliers, exceeding Marriott's 2007 overall supplier diversity target of 13 percent.

The resort is committed to utilizing local suppliers and sustainable and organic produce in their kitchens, evident in the freshness and taste of the Starr Pass culinary program. The property's three main restaurants, Primo, Catalina Steakhouse and Signature Grill, all work directly with local producers, like Agua Linda Farm, an organic co-op and CSA (community supported agriculture). Starr Pass even owns shares of this farm and often helps them harvest. Additionally, the resort also maintains an on-site chef's garden, thriving with native produce and flowers.

Resting in close proximity to the resort is the Tohono O'odham Nation, a Native American tribe located in Tucson. The resort staff feels it is vital to honor and collaborate with those who have kept the true spirit of the Southwest alive. Every June, the resort participates in the tribe's celebration Ha:san Bak, in which saguaro cactus fruit and prickly pear are harvested. These native items are then incorporated into the resort's menus. The property also purchases healing ingredients through the Tohono O'Odham tribe for use in the spa's indigenous massages and facials. Supplier relationships also extend to local artists, featured in the gift shop.

Diversity is reflected in the Starr Pass team. "Our associates speak 14 different languages and represent at least six cultures, including Mexican, Jamaican and Native American," said Miller. "Chefs in our kitchen have brought in family recipes, which Starr Pass then recreates. Many often become signature dishes. "

The resort staff includes associates and interns from countries across the world including Jamaica, Turkey, Bulgaria, Russia, Germany, Mexico, Canada and more.

Starr Pass' Human Resource Department offers both English and Spanish classes for all associates. The property has also teamed up with the Jamaican government to employ a Jamaican workforce for the nine-month resort season. The Jamaican team is provided housing close to the resort. Working as a team, other associates provide them with transportation each day in an effort to promote the resort's eco-friendly initiatives.

The resort's diversity committee, a group formed by employees, has created resources to educate associates on the value of inclusion. Their unique diversity calendar spotlights a different culture every month by featuring associates, customs and folklore from that culture. Days are set aside to showcase ethnic foods, music and dress.

The Starr Pass community outreach is also strong. Associates are involved with numerous local organizations such as Jobs for Life, Tucson Indian Center, Casa de los Ninos, Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, Tucson Special Olympics, Children's Miracle Network and more.

The entire Starr Pass team is thrilled to be honored with this prestigious award and look forward to the continued development of additional exciting and beneficial diversity programs. To learn more about the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa, please call them at (520) 792- 3500 or visit jwmarriottstarrpass.com

About JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa

As the only resort in Southern Arizona to be named to the Travel + Leisure 2008 World's Best Hotels Top 500 List, Starr Pass draws on the beauty of its mountainous location. The resort incorporates the natural desert as its landscape design theme. With 575 spacious guestrooms, 88,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, five restaurants, a 20,000 sq. ft. spa, four separate pools, a lazy river and water slide, an Arnold Palmer Signature golf facility and 888 underground and covered parking spaces, the resort boasts of being not only the largest resort in southern Arizona, but also the only true eco-resort in Tucson. Since opening in 2005, the resort has donated over 250 acres of land to preservations in Tucson Mountain Park. This eco theme extends to its restaurants, which serve only 100% line caught fish; its Hashani Spa, which uses natural desert plant oils; recycling programs; and direct access to the nature trails of Tucson Mountain Park. The resort continues to develop new and successful "green" initiatives. To quote Bill Marriott, "you can build all types of amenities but it would be impossible to duplicate what Starr Pass has, the Tucson Mountain Park." The JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa is located at 3800 W. Starr Pass and can be reached directly by calling (520) 792-3500. Please visit www.jwmarriottstarrpass.com .

CONTACT: Susanna Minegishi- McFadden/Gavender/ O: 520-882-6262 M: 520-444-9223/ susanna@mcfaddengavender.com /

Karen Gavender- McFadden/Gavender/ O: 520-882-6262 M: 520-603-4200/ karen@mcfaddengavender.com /