Orlando, Fla. – The world’s largest Marriott, the 2,000-room Orlando World Center Marriott Resort & Convention Center holds some of the nation’s highest honors for service excellence and is now recognized as one of the top five meeting properties worldwide. A 22-time consecutive winner of Meetings & Conventions magazine Gold Key Award adds to its trophy case the highly distinguished 2008 Gold Key “Elite” Award, established to define the "best of the best" – as measured by total votes cast – among all Gold Key winners. “I am proud of this remarkable achievement,” stated Orlando World Center Marriott Director of Sales and Marketing, Tim Pyne. “We rely heavily on our creative and experienced team of banquet operations, service delivery and culinary professionals to consistently deliver exceptional quality and this outstanding award acknowledges those efforts.”

Only five hotels and resorts achieved the 'Elite' level and 199 were honored as Gold Key winners. “By exceeding the levels of excellence set by their peers, the Gold Elite properties greatly impressed M&C's readers and gained the votes of the industry's most important critics," states Bernard W. Schraer, Meetings & Conventions Group Publisher.

The Orlando World Center Marriott Resort & Convention Center is also a 15-time winner of Meetings & Conventions Gold Tee and a 10-time winner of Meetings & Conventions Gold Platter. Gold Key, Gold Platter and Gold Tee awards have served as a meetings industry benchmark for more than 30 years. The award winners are voted upon by readers of M&C magazine, as many as 70,000 corporate, incentive and association meeting planners. Winners will be published in the magazine’s annual Gold Award supplement, which will be released in November.

This award-winning and eco-savvy meeting destination showcases a remarkable 450,000 total square-feet of event space, all under one roof and almost entirely on one level. In the minds of meeting planners, it remains the most admired convention resort in the country. It is home to the largest pillar-free resort ballroom in the nation; 2,000 beautifully designed guest rooms and suites, with spacious balconies; 10 diverse restaurants and lounges; Marriott’s Signature Red Coat Program, 18-hole championship golf course and a full service spa and fitness center. The sprawling outdoor spaces and terraces, which surround or overlook the resort’s impressive million-gallon pool complex, are also perfect venues to host dynamic outdoor functions. A stellar management team is on hand to successfully orchestrate any size event.

The Orlando World Center Marriott Resort & Convention Center is located within minutes of the Orlando International Airport and a host of major attractions. For information or reservations, call 407-239-4200 or visit .

Nadine DeGenova
407-682-2625