Skift Take

Marriott is obviously pleased with the initial response to its homesharing product. With Airbnb making a big play in the luxury sector, it will be interesting to watch how things shape up.

Series: New Luxury

Luxury Travel News

The Skift New Luxury column is our weekly column focused on the business of selling luxury travel, the people and companies creating and selling experiences, emerging trends, and the changing consumer habits around the sector.

In the same week that Airbnb launched its own dedicated luxury homesharing product, it was interesting to hear from a rival about its own adventures in high-end rentals.

Marriott has come at the market from the other side of the divide. As the largest hotel company in the world, it has been pretty cautious in its experimentation so far, only launching Homes & Villas by Marriott International after a substantial pilot.

Speaking at Skift Tech Forum last week, Stephanie Linnartz, the hotel giant’s global chief commercial officer, said one of the big drivers for getting involved in the first place was interest from members in its loyalty scheme. And Marriott estimates that about 90 percent of customers booking homes and villas through Marriott are Bonvoy members. That’s a significant number.

“We wanted to make Bonvoy stickier, deeper, richer, so it’s not surprising the bookings are mainly from loyalty,” Linnartz said.

How deep Marriott gets in the alternative accommodations sector will depend on the take-up over a sustained period of time, but for now the company seems pretty happy with how things are progressing.

For feedback or news tips, reach out via email at [email protected] or tweet me @paddywhyte.

— Patrick Whyte, Europe Editor

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Skift Europe Editor Patrick Whyte [[email protected]] curates the New Luxury newsletter. Skift emails the newsletter every Tuesday.

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Tags: homesharing, luxury, marriott, skift tech forum, stf2019

Photo credit: Champagne Shores Villa in Anguilla. Marriott officially launched its homesharing platform earlier this year. Marriott

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