Vail Resorts, Promotes Heidi Kercher-Pratt to VP and CMO
BROOMFIELD, CO, August 27, 2009 - Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE:MTN) announced today that Heidi Kercher-Pratt was promoted to vice president and chief marketing officer, effective immediately. Kercher-Pratt fills the role recently vacated by Derek Koenig. Kercher-Pratt joined Vail Resorts in 1996 as an assistant in the advertising department and, with this promotion, will now oversee all of the marketing and sales efforts for the Company's Mountain Division.
"Heidi's promotion is the result of a long and very successful career with our Company," said Rob Katz, chief executive officer and chairman of Vail Resorts. "With over a decade of experience at Vail Resorts, and a deep understanding of our industry, Heidi is uniquely positioned to assume this leadership role and to guide our Company's marketing and sales strategies during this critical time, against the backdrop of a dynamic and constantly changing media landscape and the current economic challenges."
As a Colorado native, Kercher-Pratt started skiing at Vail when she was 4 years old and since beginning her career with the company 13 years ago, has held various positions in the Direct Marketing department, was the Director of Marketing for Beaver Creek Mountain and the Director of Integrated Marketing Services. She was promoted to Vice President of Corporate Marketing in 2008 and in addition to overseeing the Colorado and Summit pass programs since 2002 she was instrumental in the development of the recently launched Epic Season Pass program, a revolutionary product in the travel industry. Kercher-Pratt will report directly to Katz.
Kercher-Pratt was recently appointed to the Board of Directors for the Colorado Tourism Office. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology/pre-medicine from the University of Colorado at Boulder and lives in Broomfield with her husband and two daughters.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
