Marriott looks to boost range of guest services

Brand enhancements

Marriott looks to boost range of guest services

Report by LEEWINTER

MARRIOTT International has announced a series of new guest services and brand enhancements for its hotels and resorts across the globe.

The programme called Thinking of You includes newly designed beds, the launch of a guest helpline and a faster booking service for customers who use the hotel chain’s Internet site www.marriott.com.

Marriott International chairman and chief executive officer John Willard Marriott Jr said: “We have a reputation for listening to our guests and providing meaningful services and innovative products.

“Thinking of You represents Marriott’s on-going commitment to anticipating the needs of the guest and placing a strong focus on being able to providing the highest quality service possible.”

Marriott spent over a year designing and testing the new allergy-free beds.

It plans to have them installed in 75% of its hotels by early 2003, including 45 properties managed by Whitbread in the UK.

The new One Touch – At Your Service helpline will enable guests at selected Marriott Hotels, Renaissance Hotels and Marriott Conference Centres to access all hotel services with a single call.

Designated staff will handle requests ranging from room service to business centre queries and also tourist information.

New features to the www.marriott.com site enable customers to voluntarily register their basic profile information, such as method of payment, preferred hotel brand and room type.

Meanwhile, Marriott International has been chosen to manage two hotels in Tbilisi, the capital city of Georgia. Both mid-market properties are expected to open next year.

The company has also announced it is to open its first hotel in Belgium.

The 218-room property, currently under construction on Place de la Bourse in central Brussels, is expected to open in mid-2002.

It will be known as the Brussels Marriott Hotel.