Marriott Gives a Peek Into Its New R&D Lab for Post-Pandemic Travel
Photo Credit: Marriott's new design lab is likely to factor in leisure travels continuing, dominant reign over hotel demand coming out of the pandemic. Wikimedia / JamieMarriott
Skift Take
“Bleisure” is a frequent buzz word on Marriott earnings calls during the pandemic, but the company’s development lab signals this pandemic trend of blended travel purpose has a long lifetime ahead.
Research and development labs aren’t just a thing for Big Pharma and Silicon Valley. The world’s largest hotel company has one mapping out its post-pandemic future.
Like a lot of companies, Marriott likes to keep things hush-hush at what goes on within its R&D team. But company leaders this week were willing to divulge employees at a 10,000-square-foot design lab set to open later this year at Marriott's new Maryland headquarters. Marriott is partnering with companies like LG Corp., appliance firm Carrier Global Corp., and several startups at the new lab.
While plans for the lab may have been in development prior to the pandemic, don’t be shocked if the health crisis drives some of what gets explored and ultimately implemented at Marriott’s roughly 7,800 hotels.
Blended business and leisure travel — or “bleisure,” as company CEO Anthony Capuano frequently calls it on earnings calls — roared to life over the last 20
