Luxury Hotelier Belmond Considers Putting Itself Up for Sale
Now the question is: Who will buy it, and does the company name happen to end with “riot”?
Marriott International News
The journey of the largest hotel chain in the world, Marriott International, Inc. – now with more than seven thousand hotel, residential, and timeshare properties – began with a root-beer stand in Washington, D.C. in 1927 started by J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott. Following its $13.3 billion acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts in 2016, it became the largest global hotel company. It currently commands a mammoth portfolio of more than two dozen hotel brands such as JW Marriott Hotels, The Ritz-Carlton, The Luxury Collection, Delta Hotels, Marriott Vacation Club, Le Méridien, Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, Courtyard, Fairfield, and W Hotels. Its properties contain nearly a million and a half rooms worldwide. Through its premier loyalty program Bonvoy, it is engaged in partnerships with the likes of United Airlines, Uber, American Express, Hertz, and others to optimize customer engagement.
Marriott Still Working Through Starwood Integration Two Years After Deal
Can Marriott hold onto hotel owners and SPG elites? That was the underlying question on many analysts' minds during Marriott's second quarter earnings call. After all, the bigger you are, the harder you have to fall, right? But the world's largest hotel company, not surprisingly, doesn't see things that way.
The 6 Most Popular Skift Stories Ever
Our readers — perhaps aimlessly clicking on compelling-looking stories from remote hamlets around the globe — have voted these stories up as the Skift most-popular stories of all time. Think of it as the wisdom of the crowds.
Amazon Wades Into Travel as Hotels Turn to Alexa in Rooms
The next big questions hoteliers might soon be asking themselves: "Alexa, how do I make sure you recommend my hotels when they ask you where they want to stay?" Or, on the flip side: "Why did I invest so much into the modern-day version of the iPod docking station?"
How Sheraton Lost Its Way and Marriott’s Plans to Bring It Back
Before you read this, ask yourself: What exactly does Sheraton stand for? For example, Westin is synonymous with wellness, St. Regis with luxury, W with lifestyle. And at the end of this article, ask yourself that same question again. If you struggle to come up with an answer, it's clear Marriott has a lot more work to do with the Sheraton brand.
Video: Marriott’s Global Brand Officer on Why Europe Needs More Hotel Brands
Nixing a hotel brand isn't as simple as turning the lights off and calling it a day. There are contracts, owners, and livelihoods at stake and Marriott couldn't cut any of its 30 brands overnight. The company thinks there is plenty of room for its brands around the world, but we'll see what the future holds.
Marriott CEO on Tech Giants: ‘We Are in an Absolute War for Who Owns the Customer’
Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson, along with his fellow hotel CEOs are right: It's not the "disruptors" like Airbnb that are the biggest threat, but the already established tech giants like Amazon, Google, Facebook, Tencent, Alibaba, and others that are the real competition for the hotel industry.
Skift Podcast: Why Marriott Is So Attached to Its 30 Brands
One of the big questions when Marriott bought Starwood was which brands would survive. Executives at the company had the same question, and global brand officer Tina Edmundson explains what went into the decision to keep all 30.
Marriott’s Plans for Homesharing, Malls, and All-Inclusive Resorts
Marriott is already dabbling in tours and activities, homesharing, and cruising and soon, potentially, all-inclusive resorts. So, what's next? Aviation?
Hotel CEOs’ Views on Homesharing Evolve Even as Industry Remains Critical
Now that AccorHotels, Hyatt, and Marriott have started getting into homesharing, what does that mean for the hotel industry's crusade against it? Can AH&LA continue to fight Airbnb when some of its members are now actively participating in the short-term rental space?