Marriott to Host Int'l NBA Events

Marriott International has signed on as the official hotel of several marquee National Basketball Association events around the world.

April 6, 2018

Hotel partnership to span five continents.

Marriott International has signed on as the official hotel of several marquee National Basketball Association events around the world, becoming the first company to partner with the NBA across international games on five different continents.

Spanning Marriott’s global portfolio of 19 brands, including The Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, Renaissance Hotels, Marriott Hotels, Protea Hotels and AC Hotels, Marriott Rewards will host a series of private meet-and-greets with NBA legends and players for its Elite members and invite fans to take a virtual trip in the #AroundTheWorld photo and social sharing experience. The first

Marriott Rewards NBA legends meet-and-greet will be co-hosted by The Protea African Pride Melrose Arch Hotel in Johannesburg.

Additionally, Marriott Rewards members in the U.S. will be able enter in an upcoming sweepstakes to win a trip and tickets to an upcoming NBA global event.

“For our fans around the world, there is no opportunity more exciting than when live NBA games are played in their home countries,” says Emilio Collins, executive vice president, global marketing partnerships, NBA. “Marriott International is a renowned brand with extensive global operations, and is the ideal partner to help broaden the reach of our games and engage more fans.”

NBA Global Games 2015-16, a series of preseason and regular-season NBA games around the world, includes a total of six NBA teams playing seven games in seven international cities. Additionally, NBA Africa Game 2015 will take place Aug. 1 at Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg, South Africa, and the NBA Canada Series 2015 will feature a record five teams playing an all-time-high four pre-season games in Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver and Winnipeg.

“Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world, and our partnership with the NBA gives us an opportunity to tap into a passionate fan base and communicate the breadth and depth of our portfolio,” says Karin Timpone, global marketing officer, Marriott International. “Similar to what we are doing with music and entertainment, our NBA partnership helps us create memorable experiences for our Rewards members and amplify the benefits of the program for both new and loyal guests.”