MARRIOTT International took more than $50m worth of bookings via the Internet in 1998 – a 213% increase over 1997.
Nearly 10m people visited its Web site during the year, up from just over 2m in 1997.
The group said the figures reflected the increase in overall Internet usage and the growing strength of Marriott brands.
It said more than 80% of all its Internet bookings come from its own site at:
www.marriott.com
Rich Hanks, executive vice-president of sales, said:”We will continue to enhance the site in order to attract new visitors and to ensure that all our current users remaininterested.
“We are just beginning to tap into the potential of the Internet as a communications and sales tool.”
The site currently features 1,700 hotels across 10 brands, along with detailedmaps, directions and destination information.
It also provides continually updated information for members of Marriott’s loyalty scheme, Marriott Rewards, who want to check their balances.