PRESS CONTACT
Maria Della Camera
1-240-274-8966
maria.dellacamera@marriott.com 

New Orleans, LA - Courtyard New Orleans Downtown/Iberville will help deserving young basketball fans score the experience of a lifetime with its latest philanthropy partnership.

The New Orleans Courtyard, an official French Quarter hotel of the 2016 Sun Belt Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships, has donated 200 tickets to The First Tee of Greater New Orleans, allowing elementary school students to attend the men's and women's basketball championship games on March 9-13, 2016.

"This is a great opportunity for today's youth in North Orleans to get a sneak peek at the potential NBA stars of tomorrow," said Maria DellaCamera, manager of marketing and e-commerce at Marriott International. "We look forward to partnering again with The First Tee and Sun Belt Conference organization."

First pairing with The First Tee of Greater New Orleans in 2015 through its affiliation with the Sun Belt Conference, Courtyard New Orleans Downtown/Iberville has made its love of giving through the game a new tradition. Under the umbrella of the World Golf Foundation, The First Tee of Greater New Orleans is an independent, non-profit organization that helps young people learn character building and important life lessons for succeeding on and off the course. The program plans to reach its goal of impacting over 500 youth members ages 5 through 18 annually with the support of corporate sponsors and partnerships such as the French Quarter hotel.

"We want to thank Courtyard by Marriott and the Sun Belt Conference for this opportunity," said Chip Patterson, executive director of The First Tee of Greater New Orleans. "Our kids loved the experience last year, and they'll be excited to go back again this year to experience some top-notch basketball."
Lakefront Arena, just 7 miles from the hotel, will be hosting the two coinciding championship tournaments. The winners of the men's and women's tournaments will receive an automatic bid to the 2016 NCAA Tournament.

Donating tickets to The First Tee of Greater New Orleans is not the only way Courtyard New Orleans Downtown/Iberville is showing its giving, game-day spirit. The hotel will also be interacting with fans in the stands by posting exciting trivia questions during the championship games. Basketball lovers will be directed to answer the questions via Twitter @Courtyard_NOLA using the hashtag #SunBeltTourney for a chance to win a two-night stay in deluxe accommodations and a $25 food and beverage credit at Vieux Carre Café, the French Quarter hotel's casual restaurant offering fine breakfast pastries, sandwiches, cocktails, beer and wine.

About Courtyard New Orleans Downtown/Iberville
Courtyard New Orleans Downtown/Iberville at 910 Iberville St. in New Orleans, LA is near the French Quarter, Bourbon Street and Mardi Gras World. The hotel features 7 floors, 90 rooms, 140 suites, 10 meeting rooms with 10,500 square feet of total event space, 3 restaurants and The Ritz-Carlton fitness center and spa. For information, visit www.CourtyardNewOrleansIberville.com or call 1-504-523-2400. Follow Courtyard New Orleans Downtown/Iberville on Twitter and like the hotel on Facebook.

Sign up now for Marriott Rewards and get on the fast track to earn points for free hotel stays, room upgrades, flights, credit card purchases and deals with Marriott partners.

Learn more about Courtyard and Marriott International Inc.