BETHESDA, Md.—Marriott International, Inc. announced plans last week to increase spending among diverse suppliers to 15 percent by 2009. Additionally, the program will expand to include a new category for GLBT suppliers and international markets, Brazil and the United Kingdom.

“Last year, our company reached record levels in spending,” said Mike

Tobolski, senior director for diversity initiatives at Marriott. “We plan to build on our company’s success in the U.S. and expand our program to nurture relationships internationally and within the LGBT community.”

In April, Marriott became a corporate member of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, Marriott announced, earlier this year, a record spend of $400 million among diverse suppliers in 2006, $40 million alone with Hispanic-owned businesses. In 2005, the company set a goal to spend more than $1 billion with diverse suppliers by 2010. Marriott officials say the company is well on track to achieve its goals ahead of schedule.

This year, Marriott was named “Top 50 Companies for Supplier Diversity” by Hispanic Trends magazine, “Top 50 Companies for Diversity” by DiversityInc and “Top 40 Companies for Diversity” by Black Enterprise.