World Series Champion Paul O'Neill Challenges Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) Member to a Home Run Hitting Contest - and Comes in Second

BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In the chance of a lifetime for any passionate baseball fan, one lucky member of Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), an award-winning loyalty program from Marriott International, got to form a team and slug it out against baseball legend Paul O'Neill in a home run hitting contest. There was a surprising and humorous twist in the final round as O'Neill took his swings with a plastic bat and ball to level the playing field. Patrick Annello used the SPG Starpoints he earned to bid and win the "Go to Bat with Paul O'Neill" master class. His team consisted of his two sons, ages 8 and 10, and seven of their friends. Moments master classes, which are personalized and interactive experiences with legends in their field, are some of the many thousands of experiences available on SPG Moments.

In a season when MLB players hit a record-setting number of home runs and with the World Series around the corner, the timing and location could not have been better – in the footprint of the original Yankee Stadium in Macombs Dam Park on Tuesday, October 17. As part of the "Go to Bat with Paul O'Neill" master class, O'Neill, an All-Star who won five World Series and held the batting crown in 1994, taught a hitting clinic for the SPG member and his team before the home run contest.

"Anyone who saw me play knows I'm super competitive and I love the game of baseball," said Paul O'Neill. "I really enjoy teaching the art of batting to others as passionate as me. I got such a kick out of sharing my expertise with the winning SPG member Patrick Annello and his team and then seeing if they were up the challenge of hitting against me right in the shadows of Yankee Stadium."

After the batting skills clinic with Paul O'Neill, Patrick Annello and his team proudly stepped into the batter's box for a shot at hitting home runs, winning Starpoints and tickets to a 2018 MLB game if they hit specific targets in the outfield. In a surprise twist during the last round, Paul O'Neill used a plastic bat and ball to "even the playing field" against his rivals.

The SPG winner, Patrick Annello, is a life-long baseball fan from Long Island, NY, and is a Gold member who joined the program in 2005. "I've been a huge Paul O'Neill fan so it was a true thrill to meet, learn and compete against him with my team, who are all under the age of 15," said Patrick Annello. "Thanks to SPG, my team and I won bragging rights against Paul in the home run hitting contest."

In addition to the "Go to Bat with Paul O'Neill" master class, SPG members have been able to bid on Moments and win elevated experiences like the chance to participate in batting practice with legendary players, throw out a ceremonial first pitch prior to a game of the World Series and play alongside Hall of Famers at the All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game.

"People travel the world for amazing and enriching experiences and we love that SPG can play a role in providing these unparalleled opportunities to our members," said Gretchen Kloke, Vice President, Global Loyalty Marketing. "Thanks to our great partners, like Major League Baseball and the Chicago Cubs, SPG members can explore the broadest offering of baseball experiences in the hospitality industry."

Since Marriott International's acquisition of Starwood Hotels and Resorts, members score even more when they link their Marriott Rewards, which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards, and SPG accounts. In addition to having their status matched in each loyalty program, members may transfer points between them for experiences on SPG Moments and Marriott Rewards Moments and to explore the portfolio of more than 6,200 hotels and resorts in 125 countries. Last year, members enjoyed 6,500 Moments powered by Marriott's unparalleled roster of partners across sports, music, entertainment, culinary and lifestyle. This summer, SPG Moments and Marriott Rewards Moments added master classes, highly personalized learning experiences taught by superstars like O'Neill.

Future Master Classes include:

• An underwater conservation tutorial the legendary Jean-Michel Cousteau at the Ritz Carlton, Kapalua.
• Surfing lessons with champion Laird Hamilton on the SurfStream at the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa in Jacksonville, Florida.
• A basketball skills clinic with Dwyane Wade on a regulation-sized court at the JW Marriott Marquis Miami.
• Photography shoot with renowned National Geographic photographer Ralph Lee Hopkins at the Gramercy Park Hotel, a Member of Design Hotels in New York.
• Cook alongside Eric Ripert at the Cayman Cookout inside The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman.

For downloadable images of the event, go to link and for downloadable broadcast quality video, go to link.

About Paul O'Neill

Paul O'Neil is a five-time All-Star right fielder who won the 1994 American League Batting Title, made six World Series appearances, has five World Series rings and won twenty-three of the thirty World Series games he appeared in. Paul is the first Yankee since Mickey Mantle from 1952-62 to hit at least 18 home runs in nine consecutive seasons. In 2001, Paul became the oldest major leaguer to steal twenty bases and hit twenty home runs in the same season. He also spends hundreds of hours a year doing philanthropy to benefit children under his non-profit, Right Field Charities. As of May 2017, Right Field Charities has donated $111,741 worth of memorabilia to 239 non-profits or people in need and $30,500.00 in cash to various non-profits.

About Starwood Preferred Guest

Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG®) is an innovative, award-winning frequent traveler program that unites 11 luxury and distinctive hotel brands in more than 1,300 properties in 95 countries and territories around the world. SPG reinvented the hospitality loyalty landscape when it launched in 1999 with its breakthrough policy of no blackout dates, and over the years has continued its tradition of innovation with enhancements such as Cash + Points, Your24™, SPG Lifetime™, SPG Moments and 4 p.m. late checkout when available. SPG also offers the opportunity for meeting and travel professionals to earn rich rewards including Starpoints and elite status through SPG Pro. SPG has an ongoing commitment to meeting the needs of today's connected global traveler by leveraging must-have mobile apps for iPhone, iPad, and Android that utilize state-aware technology to create a more personalized hotel stay. All of this has helped SPG build a passionate member base among the world's most frequent travelers. Learn more about the #spglife at spg.com,spg.com/pro and spg.com/moments and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. SPG members can now also link their accounts with Marriott Rewards® - which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® - for instant elite status matching and unlimited points transfer at spg.com/Marriott.

About Marriott Rewards

Marriott International's award-winning loyalty program – Marriott Rewards – spans 18 unique and iconic global brands and over 4,300 distinctive properties. Members of Marriott Rewards® - which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® - can link their accounts with Starwood Preferred Guest® at members.marriott.com for expanded benefits including instant elite status matching and unlimited points transfer across portfolios. When members book their stays on Marriott.com or the Marriott Mobile app, they earn loyalty points, enjoy the advantage of exclusive Member Rates, our lowest available rates, and gain an elevated stay experience with free Wi-Fi, mobile check-in and checkout, and Mobile Service Requests wherever available.  The hugely popular Marriott Rewards has won the Freddie Award for "Hotel Program of the Year–Americas" nine consecutive years as chosen by frequent travelers. Marriott Rewards is free to join and has no blackout dates. To enroll and for more information about the program, guests may visit. Connect with Marriott Rewards on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.