FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 15, 2007
Media Contact:
Lindsey Brown
(843) 785-7469
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Hilton Head Announces its 2007 Honorary Chair
A major collector attends the Concours
Hilton Head Island, SC – The Hilton Head Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival announced today that J.W. “Bill” Marriott, Jr., Chairman & CEO of Marriott International, Inc., one of the world’s largest lodging companies, and owner of an extensive, private automotive collection, will act as the Honorary Chairman for the 6th Anniversary event, November 1-4.
Participating in last year’s Concours as an exhibitor with a 1938 Darracq/Talbot Lago, Mr. Marriott is honored to return this year in this prestigious role, following predecessors such as Indy racing legend Bobby Rahal and museum president Patricia Mooradian, President of The Henry Ford. Although a frequent exhibitor in such noted Concours as Pebble Beach, this will be the first time Mr. Marriott will serve as an Honorary Chair for any Concours event.
“We are extremely pleased to have Mr. Marriott serve as our Honorary Chair this year,” said Carolyn Vanagel, Executive Director. “With our emphasis on education and creating an interest in the car collector hobby, we are pleased to have such a tremendous fan of that pastime here on the grounds, connecting and sharing his passion with attendees.”
As part of his participation on Saturday, November 3, Mr. Marriott, a passionate collector of Italian sports cars, will select his personal favorites from the day’s Car Club Jamboree featuring the cars of Italy, and will present those selections during an exciting parade that afternoon. Additionally, two cars from his personal collection will be on display both Saturday, November 3 and Sunday, November 4 – a 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB-4 and a 1955 Maserati PF Coupe, which is one of only four ever made – for all those attending to admire.
Serving more than 50 years with the company, J.W. Marriott, Jr. was elected Chief Executive Officer in 1972 and Chairman of the Board in 1985 and has seen the company grow from a family restaurant business to a $12 billion global lodging company with almost 2,900 properties in nearly 70 countries and territories. With his corporate vision of becoming “the world’s leading provider of hospitality services,” Marriott focuses on taking care of the guest, offering extensive operational knowledge, developing a highly skilled and diverse workforce and offering the best portfolio of lodging brands in the industry.
Mr. Marriott’s revered hands-on management style and “spirit to serve” culture are traits that were pulled from the company’s original business philosophy developed by Mr. Marriott’s parents, J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott. “It is that same hands-on style that Marriott is known for in his business dealings that we are excited to incorporate into our Concours – interacting with the audience during a special Italian car selection and presentation, generously offering valued pieces of his private collection for Hilton Head residents and visitors to see and experience and presenting his history with the automotive hobby, the breadth of his own personal collection and the reasoning behind his love for certain makes and colors to our guests at the Saturday Night Gala,” said Dr. Paul Doerring, Event Chairman.
In addition to his corporate background, Mr. Marriott, having served as an officer of the United States Navy, is a director of the United States Naval Academy Foundation. Furthermore, Mr. Marriott currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the National Geographic Society and The J. Willard & Alice S. Marriott Foundation and is a member of the Executive Committee of the World Travel & Tourism Council and the National Business Council. Mr. Marriott acts as chairman of the President’s Export Council, a presidential advisory committee on export trade, and of the Leadership Council of the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries and serves on the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board (TTAB).
For more information on the 2007 Hilton Head Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival, visit www.hhiconcours.com.