Marriott CEO Says Hotel Group Is Building More Digital Tools for Guests
Photo Caption: A deluxe king room at the AC Melbourne Southbank, a hotel that opened in May in Australia and that's part of Marriott International's network. Source: Marriott International.
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In a wide-ranging interview, Anthony Capuano said Marriott is testing adding buttons to its mobile app that would let guests choose their room assignments electronically or tip staff with online payments. The improvements couldn't come fast enough for many travelers.
Marriott International plans to expand the online tools it gives guests, such as possibly letting guests pick rooms and tip staff via its mobile app.
"We're in the midst of a pretty big technology transformation," said CEO Anthony Capuano during a talk on Thursday.
Capuano said his company has been testing adding buttons to the Bonvoy app that would let guests choose their room assignments electronically or tip staff using online payment methods.
The top boss of the world's largest hotel group didn't give a timetable for the functionality because he said the concepts are still in testing and may vary by brand.
Capuano made the comments as part of a fireside chat with David Rubenstein, co-founder and co-executive chairman of The Carlyle Group, at the Economic Club of Washington, DC. In the chat, he covered Marriott's performance, its most profitable brand, why now is a good time to be a hotel investor, and the company's diversity effort
