LAS VEGAS, NV? PurchasePro.com announced the signing of an electronic purchasing program contract with The Marketplace by Marriott, the procurement arm of Marriott International. Under terms of the agreement, PurchasePro.com, a provider of business-to-business electronic commerce services, will develop the pilot rendition of a private ?e-marketplace? that will enable Marketplace by Marriott customers and suppliers to participate in a single interactive trading community supported with electronic catalogs, embedded corporate purchasing rules and robust reporting and archiving features. Initially, The Marketplace by Marriott will integrate PurchasePro.com?s online business-to-business solution with a test group of vendors and approximately 25 Marriott properties around the U.S. PurchasePro.com?s e-commerce solution is comprised of public and private ?e-marketplaces? where businesses can buy and sell a wide range of products and services in an efficient, competitive and cost-effective manner. The company?s target customers are primarily small to medium-sized businesses. PurchasePro.com has designed its e-marketplaces to meet the needs of these customers and their large business partners. A key element of this strategy is to develop sales and marketing relationships. PurchasePro.com provides support and training programs. The Bethesda, MD-based Marketplace by Marriott was launched last year to provide one-stop shopping for a variety of commodities and services.
