Rugby League World Cup 2013 officials announced Thursday that Marriott Hotels & Resorts will be the official sponsors of the event.
"It's fantastic that we are able to announce Marriott Hotels & Resorts as our Official Hotel Partner today," said Sally Bolton, RLWC2013 tournament general manager in an official statement.
Bolton is sure the Marriot group will provide excellent service to all the participating teams as well provide great accommodation options for local fans as well as the huge amount of visitors the event will bring.
"This announcement is a great way for us to kick off the year and is the first of a raft of partnerships we will be announcing over the coming months."
The hotel chain will play host to all 14 competing nations at base camps across the UK and Ireland.
"We are delighted to have been chosen by RLWC2013 as the tournament's Official Hotel Partner," Osama Hirzalla, vice president brand marketing and ecommerce for Marriott International in Europe said. "It will be a privilege to host the teams at our hotels across the UK as they prepare for their biggest sporting challenge, and we also hope to welcome the many thousands of fans from the UK and across the world as they travel to support their countries."
The Rugby Football League's chief executive Nigel Wood said that the success of the 2013 World Cup will deem the success of all future rugby league games.
"If you look at Super League it is a great product, unfortunately beset by financial problems," he said. "It remains a great sport to watch but the challenge for league worldwide is obvious. They have to get the international game right and achieve what international rugby union has done.
"Get that media attention on to the international game as it is just not happening, and I do feel sometimes they have neglected that, which is going to be a huge problem. "
