Save at eight Marriott brands with these targeted offers
Chase is currently targeting select cardholders for savings on spending with select Marriott brands and while (as usual) these deals are only available for stays that are paid for in the next few weeks, the rebates on offer can be significant so it will be worth checking your cards to see if you have been targeted if you have an upcoming Marriott stay.
Marriott will get a new hotel in Hong Kong next year (and Accor will...
Marriott has today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Victoria Park Hotels to bring the Autograph Collection brand to Hong Kong in 2025 and if I'm reading things right, this move will see an Accor hotel rebranded as a Marriott Autograph Collection property at some point next year.
A look at seven of the major hotel best rate guarantees (what they say...
The rules of the various best rate guarantees offered by the major hotel chains and the compensation these guarantees offers can vary significantly, so what you'll find in this article is a look at each of the key guarantees currently published and some of my thoughts on what they offer.
Marriott’s Madi Paidi Autograph Collection property in Bangkok (newest Marriott in Bangkok)
Having only opened its doors in September 2023, the Madi Paidi Bangkok is Marriott's newest property in Thailand's capital and it's the first Autograph Collection property in the country. As TFM was in the hotel's neighborhood taking a look the new InterContinental Bangkok Sukhumvit, we decided to drop by the property to see what is has to offer.
Review: Threadneedles, a Marriott Autograph Collection hotel in London
This review of Threadneedles is based on a single night stay, but because the property isn't particularly large and because it's more a of a boutique hotel than a major tourist hotel, that was more than enough to give me a very good idea of what the hotel is like and what it offers.
Marriott announces a ‘Cyber Sale’ for next week
Marriott has given us advanced warning that it will be launching a 'Cyber Sale' next week in which it will be offering savings on stays booked by November 28th. In addition, all the Marriott online boutiques are currently offering good discounts on most of the items that they sell and if you're in a giving mood after Thanksgiving, there will be an opportunity to donate any spare Bonvoy points sitting in your account to one of three charities.
Review: Moxy Paris Charles de Gaulle airport (a Marriott Bonvoy property)
As part of a recent trip to try out JetBlue's new route between Paris CDG and New York JFK, I spent a night at the Moxy Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. This is a review of that property which sits between the airport's two main terminals.
Marriott will open three new high-end all-inclusive properties in Mexico
It has been a while since we heard Marriott talk about its plans for its all-inclusive collection, but the silence has now been broken with news that we can expect Marriott to open three new high-end all-inclusive properties in Mexico in the next three years.
Marriott is introducing the “Apartments by Marriott Bonvoy” brand
Marriott has today put out an announcement to say that it's expanding its portfolio beyond hotels, resorts, timeshares, and home rentals and that it plans to offer apartment-style accommodations in locations around the world.
Revealed: Marriott’s ‘Week of Wonders’ promotions (prepare for colossal disappointment)
A few days ago, I noted that Marriott was bringing back its 'Week of Wonders' promotion but at the time, details of the promotion were unavailable. Today, the promotion went live and the full extent of what Marriott is offering is now there for everyone to see.
Marriott will open a new luxury EDITION property in the Italian Lakes
Lately, Marriott has been making a lot of announcements regarding its plans for new properties but the one that piqued my interest most was the announcement of a new luxury property that will open in the Italian lakes in 2025.
The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad is now open
Marriott has confirmed the opening of its latest hotel in New York City - the Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad - which is situated in the heart of Manhattan between the Empire State Building and the Flatiron Building.
Today only: Save 20% on Marriott Bonvoy gift cards (Daily Getaways)
Today we hit the mid-point in week 2 of this year's Daily Getaways deals and with the mid-point of week 2, comes a set of deals that should appeal to a significant number of people. Marriott Bonvoy gift cards are in focus as of 13:00 Eastern Time today with the chance for Daily Getaways participants to save 20% on gift cards worth up to $500.
Marriott announces plans for its first St. Regis property in the UK
It's been a bit of a UK centric day today on Traveling For Miles with confirmation of a new Hyatt Regency for London and the news that Qantas is bringing back the Perth - London route in July and the UK-related news continues here with an announcement from Marriott that it will open its first St. Regis property in the UK next year.
Marriott has opened the Reykjavik EDITION
At the time of writing, there are just 11 EDITION properties around the world but Marriott has been promising us plenty more, and true to its word, it has now opened the doors to its newest EDITION property Reykjavik, Iceland.
Deal: Save $200 on Marriott Homes & Villas bookings & earn 10 points/dollar [Targeted]
American Express has launched a new offer for Marriott Homes & Villas stays. The offer covers stays made through 15 December 2021 and because the spending needed to trigger the rebate doesn't have to be done in a single transaction and because the offer is not limited to properties in the US, this rebate may be easier to earn than first looks suggest.
Marriott shares plans for eleven new St Regis Resorts by 2025
Marriott has announced that it has plans to nearly double the number of St. Regis Resorts in its portfolio by 2025. The hotelier has confirmed that it will add a total of eleven new resorts to its existing fifteen St Regis Resorts in the course of the next four years as it looks to expand its high-end offering.
Marriott Has Added 19 Autograph Collection Properties To Its All-Inclusive Portfolio
In February of this year, Marriott confirmed plans to add a number of Blue Diamond all-inclusive resorts to its Autograph Collection brand but, at the time, didn't actually say when the properties would be available to book on Marriott.com. Well, as of right now, 19 new all-inclusive properties are bookable with Bonvoy Points and/or cash.
Marriott Bonvoy co-branded cardholders can earn 10x on Homes & Villas spending [through Dec...
Over the past few months, Marriott has been pretty aggressive when it comes to advertising its "Homes & Villas by Marriott" program, and the hotelier is now attempting to make its luxury self-catering option a little more tempting to Marriott loyalists by offering bonus points on Homes & Villas spending when a stay is paid for using a Bonvoy co-branded credit card.
Flash Deal: Get Up To $300 Credit At Select Ritz-Carlton, EDITION & St Regis...
Marriott has brought back its "Escape to Luxury" promotion in which it offers guests up to $300 in credits on stays of 2-nights or more at some of its more luxurious properties in the Americas and the Caribbean. The catch is that bookings must be made by this coming Sunday.
Marriott Now Offers Free COVID Testing At Select Resorts
Hyatt got some very good press when, at the end of last month, it announced that all 19 of its resorts in Latin America and the Caribbean would offer free coronavirus testing for guests returning to the United States. Now Marriott appears to be joining in...albeit a little less wholeheartedly.
Marriott will open a new property on Maui in April (or May)
Amidst a variety of announcements that we've recently seen Marriott making, one small bit of news appears to have slipped under the radar. Within the next few months, Marriott Bonvoy members will have a new Hawaiian property at which to burn their hard-earned points.
What’s New In The Marriott Bonvoy Mobile App?
The Marriott Bonvoy app has been refreshed, redesigned, and been given a full makeover and while some of the changes may appear to be cosmetic, others include new booking options, better functionality, improvements to the search facility, and improvements to the way information is displayed. Here, in brief, is what's new in the refreshed Marriott Bonvoy app.
Marriott Bonvoy Is Set To Absorb 19 Properties Into Its All-Inclusive Portfolio
Marriott has today announced that it has entered into a deal with Blue Diamond Resorts to incorporate 19 of its all-inclusive resorts into its Autograph Collection portfolio. The resorts are spread across six destinations and will add almost 7,000 rooms to Marriott's current all-inclusive offering.
Marriott has opened the W Melbourne
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about Marriott's plans to open almost 100 new Asia Pacific properties in 2021, and now we already have one of the properties featured in that article welcoming guests - the W Hotel Melbourne is officially open.
Marriott Showcases Its New Sheraton Hotels & Their Designs
Way back in 2018 (in what seems like an age ago), Marriott announced that it would be giving its Sheraton brand a much-needed facelift and dragging the brand into the 21st century. Now, three years down the road, Marriott is ready to show us the promised changes that are now coming to fruition and the new look Sheratons that have been refurbished from top to bottom.
Marriott Launches Eco-Friendly Experiences Pilot In Asia Pacific
Marriott has announced the launch of the 'Good Travel with Marriott Bonvoy' program which the hotelier says is aimed at creating opportunities for its guests in the Asia Pacific region to engage with local communities and their local environment during their stay.
Marriott Adds A New Boutique Hotel In Tuscany
These may not be the best of times in which to be opening a new hotel but that hasn't stopped Marriott from unveiling a new Autograph Collection property in Tuscany, Italy. The Grand Universe Lucca, a former 16th Century Palazzo, opened its doors yesterday and joins the Marriott Bonvoy program as a Category 4 property.
Marriott Now Has One Fewer Hotels In Central London
Back in the summer, news broke that Marriott would be losing one of its properties in the heart of London this fall and, as of a few days ago, the Le Meridien Picadilly is no longer part of the Marriott network.
2 Days Only: Save 15% On Marriott Gift Cards (Should Stack With Chase Offer)
Marriott has launched a 2-day sale in which it’s offering customers a 15% discount on e-gift card purchases made through the end of tomorrow. This sale is restricted to residents of the United States and Canada only (which is disappointing) but this could be a good deal for frequent visitors to Marriott portfolio properties.
Marriott Black Friday Flash Sale – 40% Off Weekends In Europe, Middle East &...
Marriott is currently running a sale in which it's offering up to 40% off its standard rates on weekend stays in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The sale runs through 30 November so there are still a few days in which to do some research and to book but don't leave things too late as there are a limited number of rooms available at the promotional rates.
Marriott Unveils New ‘Work Anywhere’ Plans (Good Deal Or Not?)
Marriott has followed in Hyatt's footsteps and is now offering guests the chance to book three new rate options which will allow them to use select Marriott properties as a "home office", either for a day or as part of a stay of one or more nights. In theory, this sounds like a nice idea, but is what Marriott is offering a good deal or not?
Why I’m Ignoring Marriott’s New Ritz-Carlton In The Maldives
Some links to products and travel providers on this website will earn Traveling For Miles a commission that helps contribute to the running of...
Marriott Bonvoy’s “Week Of Wonders” Promotions Are Now Live
Marriott has launched a 7-day set of promotions which when bundled together it's calling its "Week of Wonders". The deals on offer include discounted awards nights, discounts on Marriott's boutique (amenity) ranges, free nights for Homes & Villas bookings, and more.
Amazing. Marriott Just Lost 122 Properties In North America (Including a Major Hawaii Resort)
Service Properties Trust, a company that owns over a hundred properties that are currently operating under various Marriott brands, has announced that it is terminating all of its agreements with Marriott effective 31 January 2021. There doesn't look to be any going back so from 1 February next year, Marriott's North America portfolio will have noticeably fewer properties in it than it did the day before.
Marriott Bonvoy Announces “Escape To Luxury” Packages
Marriott has announced a new offering which it's calling "Escape to Luxury" and in which guests can make the most of "singular experiences" at a variety of luxury properties in North America, the Caribbean, and Latin America which celebrate each unique destination and which can be paid for (in part or in full) by up to $300 in credits that the properties are offering.
Marriott’s Secret Website Will Tell You What Services Its Hotels Are Offering During The...
Marriott has built a website that is designed to show travelers what services and amenities its properties are offering during the current crisis. The site isn't yet official and its contents are not yet complete, but with in-house offerings varying wildly from property to property (even for properties in the same town or city), this can still be an invaluable resource for anyone trying to decide what Marriott to book for their next trip.
Marriott Partners With Quintessentially To Encourage Luxury Road Trips This Fall
Marriott has joined forces with high-end concierge company Quintessentially, to pull together a series of road trip options for travelers that may prefer to vacation closer to home or for those who would still like to travel but who would like to see more of the regions they're visiting. Each of the curated itineraries includes stays at some of Marriott's top properties in the US and Europe.
Warning: IHG & Marriott Flexible Cancellation Policies Are Ending
IHG and Marriott are the first major hotel chains to confirm that they're ending their flexible cancellation policies which have been available on all bookings since the beginning of the current crisis. At the time of writing, Hilton, Hyatt, and Radisson have not yet followed suit, but with their current policies expiring at the same time as the Marriott and IHG policies expire, there's scope for these three chains to go down the same path.
Flash Sale: Save 25% With Marriott (North America, Caribbean & Latin America)
Details of the latest "Marriott Bonvoy Escapes" are now out and there are savings of up to 25% on offer for stays through 20 September at select locations within North America, Latin America, and the Caribbean. If you in a position to travel and are happy to travel, these are deals that could be worth checking out.
Amex Offer: Get Up To 25% Off At Marriott Properties [Targeted]
American Express has launched the first travel-related offer that I've seen for months (luggage offers don't count!) so if you're planning on making any Marriott bookings in the next couple of months, I suggest you check your accounts to see if you have been targeted.
I’ve Had A Lot Of Trouble Buying Marriott Gift Cards
Last month, in the week that Marriott was selling its e-gift cards at a discount, I made 4 separate gift card purchases in an attempt to see how the transactions would be treated by various credit cards I hold and in an attempt to use up the Marriott travel credit offered by the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant credit card from American Express. Things did not progress smoothly.
Marriott Raises $920 Million From Chase & American Express
Marriot has just announced that it has raised $920 million in cash through the agreements it holds with JPMorgan Chase and American Express and, in doing so, follows Hilton in using its credit card partners to raise much needed liquidity during the current crisis.
Use The New Marriott Tool To See Room Rates With All Fees & Taxes...
In countries where the hotel industry lobby doesn't own the people's elected representatives (at least, not entirely), hotel websites are obliged to show the total cost of a room with all taxes and fees added in. Sadly the United States isn't such a country so, on most US hotel websites, the cost of a room that a customer is first presented with often has little in common with the final price paid.
Marriott opens the refurbished Ritz-Carlton South Beach
Marriott has announced the reopening of the Ritz-Carlton South Beach following a $90m renovation project that has seen the property keep its Art Deco design but has also seen a wholescale floor-to-ceiling modernization of the property.
Marriott Bonvoy’s ‘The Langley’ reviewed
Earlier this year, with very little fanfare, a new Marriott property opened outside London. The property is called The Langley (a Luxury Collection property) and it sits within a 130-acre park in the British countryside a little over 7 miles from Heathrow airport.
Joanna and I spent 2 nights at the property and, having reflected on our stay, I feel confident in stating that this property offers one of the very best redemption options in the whole Marriott Bonvoy hotel chart - it's fantastic.
Marriott Is Buying Seven Caribbean Hotels To Add To Its All-Inclusive Portfolio
At the beginning of August Marriott announced that it planned to offer guests more all-inclusive options and that it planned to do so with a mixture of new-builds, conversions of its existing resorts and new management contracts with existing all-inclusive resorts.
Well, now you can add acquisitions to that list too as Marriott has now announced that it has agreed to buy Elegant Hotels Group for approximately $130m and will be folding the groups 7 existing properties into its all-inclusive arm.
The Rip-Off Plague Continues To Spread – JW Marriott Los Angeles Adds A “Destination...
In Los Angeles alone we've recently seen properties like the Andaz West Hollywood and the Intercontinental Los Angeles Downtown introduce truly ridiculous and indefensible Destination fees, a number of the Kimpton properties in LA have charged a Destination or Amenity Fee for some time, and now the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live has joined in the scam.
Review: The Sydney Harbour Marriott At Circular Quay
I’ve stayed at the Sydney Harbour Marriott in the past and my experience on my last visit was a big reason I chose to book the property for this trip I was taking with Joanna. The location adjacent to Circular Quay is very convenient for exploring central Sydney, for access to local transport links (including ferries, buses, and trains) and it’s an incredibly easy property to get to from Sydney airport with the airport train stopping less than 3 minutes’ walk from the hotel doors.
Marriott Announces Plans For All-Inclusive Resorts
Marriott has today announced that it plans to expand its already sizeable portfolio and significant accommodation options to include all-inclusive resorts.
The corporation has confirmed that it has already signed management contracts for 5 brand new all-inclusive properties which are expected to open their doors between 2022 and 2025.
Get Up To 9% Cash Back On Marriott Bookings (4 Days Only)
Earlier in the year, we were awash with great cashback deals for bookings with Marriott and IHG courtesy of sites like Rakuten (ebates) and TopCashBack but, of late, things have been pretty quiet so it’s nice to see that TopCashBack is back with another good deal.
Update: New West Hollywood EDITION Now Taking Reservations For November
Back in May, I wrote about the much delayed West Hollywood Edition finally opened up reservations for December 2019. There was no announcement from Marriott or the property to let us know that reservations had opened up but, with the property originally set to throw open its doors in "late 2018", it was a case of better late than never.
Collect Up To 1,000 Avios Per Stay At Marriott’s European Properties
Here's a hotel promotion that really couldn't be any simpler: Between now and the end of the year travelers can collect up to 1,000 bonus Avios each time they stay at one of Marriott's European properties.
London Marriott Canary Wharf – Executive Room (In Pictures)
The London Marriott Canary Wharf is my go-to hotel when I'm visiting London on a weekend because it often offers some amazing rates for Friday and Saturday night stays. I reviewed this property in quite a bit of detail earlier this year but as that particular stay saw me upgraded to an Executive Suite I thought it might be useful to post details of what a more standard room at the London Marriott Canary Wharf is like.
The New Marriott West Hollywood EDITION Is Finally Taking Reservations
Originally the West Hollywood EDITION was scheduled to open in "late 2018" and, when it rapidly became obvious that this was never going to happen, that date got pushed back to "Spring 2019" and then, quite quickly, to "September 2019" but now, finally, the property is starting to take its first bookings.
Marriott’s London EDITION Reviewed
The London EDITION is a property I’ve been wanting to try out ever since its doors opened in 2013 but, for one reason or another, before last month I'd never stepped foot inside the property.
Shortly before the recent changes to Marriott’s award chart took effect some of my plans changed and I found myself needing to book a single night stay in central London and, with the EDITION’s nightly award cost about to increase from 60,000 to at least 85,000 points per night, this seemed like a very good time to give the hotel a try.
Review: JW Marriott Rio de Janeiro
At the beginning of last month I took a trip to Rio de Janeiro courtesy of the fantastic Iberia Avios promotion from last year and, for my 4-night stay, I booked the JW Marriott Rio de Janeiro on Copacabana Beach.
Good Deal: Get 10% Cash Back On Marriott Bookings
Ebates is currently offering 10% cash back on Marriott bookings when you use the portal to click through to the Marriott website and, because you'll be booking your stay through one of Marriott's sales channels, your stay will still earn you Bonvoy points and elite night credits and you'll still be able to avail yourself of any status benefits due to you.
DEAL: Stack Amex Offer With Airline Portals For Up To 34% Off At Marriott...
Right now you can combine an offer from American Express with a portal offer from either American Airlines or United Airlines to get a very nice rebate on a future Marriott stay.
Marriott Promotion: Free Room Upgrade & Resort Credit At Select European Properties
Marriott is currently running a promotion in which it's offering a free room upgrade and a nightly credit of up to €50 to offset any resort fees when travelers book a stay at one or more of the 47 participating Marriott properties....and some of the participating properties are very nice indeed.
Review: London Marriott Canary Wharf – Executive Suite
The London Marriott Canary Wharf has only gone by this name since it went through a name change at the beginning of the year (it used to be called the Marriott London West India Quay) and its new name is a lot better at letting people know where it’s located.
Earn 10 AAdvantage Miles Per Dollar With Marriott (Possibly Today Only)
If you're thinking of making a Marriott booking and you like collecting American Airlines AAdvantage miles than this is your lucky day - you can currently earn 10 miles per dollar on Marriott bookings when you click through the AAdvantage eShopping portal.
Marriott Opens A New Hotel In London – Weekend Rates Look Great
With over twenty properties in central London I don't think anyone was ever going to suggest that Marriott didn't offer enough options for Bonvoy members wishing to visit the capital of the UK but, just in case, Marriott has just announced the opening of a new property in a tourist-centric area - welcome to The Dixon, Tower Bridge.
9 Marriott Properties To Book Before 5 March 2019
Marriott recently announced its hotel category changes for 2019 which will soon see over 285 of its properties charging more for an award night than they do right now.
These hotel category changes will be effective for bookings made from 5 March 2019 onwards which means there are only 18 full days left to lock in the exiting rates at properties moving up a category....and I've selected 9 such properties which are worth a closer look.
Review: Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit
Bangkok is one of the more economical cities in the world to visit because food is ridiculously cheap and good accommodation doesn’t have to be expensive – there are a lot of good properties to choose from in the city and you won’t have to break the bank to stay at a lot of them.
Check Your Marriott Cash & Points Reservations – They May Be Wrong
Almost 6 months have now passed since Marriott rolled SPG into Marriott rewards in August 2018 and although some issues have finally been resolved (most people's lifetime status seems to be showing correctly in their accounts now) other issues still remain.
Marriott’s 2019 Hotel Category Changes – The Numbers
At some point on Friday afternoon Marriott quietly published a list of its properties that will be seeing the cost of an award night change for bookings made from 5 March 2019 onwards.
The fact that the news was put out on a Friday afternoon and that no emails were sent out to let members know about the upcoming changes speaks volumes but, nevertheless, I thought it would be interesting to look into the numbers behind the information we've been given.
10% Cashback At Marriott, IHG, Choice Hotels & 11% At Travelocity
Airline and hotel shopping portals can be a very good source of miles and points from everyday spending but the cashback portals can be an equally good tool for saving money....especially when they offer deals as good as these.
Marriott has Opened A New Hotel In Dubai: W Dubai – The Palm (And...
Marriott has announced the official opening of the W Dubai - The Palm located on Palm Jumeirah. The new property is being marketed as a "W Escape" which Marriott describes as "W brand’s playful spin on the traditional resort experience".
Earn 10 AAdvantage Miles/Dollar At Marriott, Get 20% Off In DC & Free Parking...
I'm often saying that airline & hotel shopping portals are a great way to keep your balances ticking over and preventing accounts expiring and, right now, the AAdvantage shopping portal has a great deal available for Marriott bookings.
Marriott Updates Guests On Its Massive Security Breach…And The News Isn’t Great
At the end of November 2018 Marriott announced that, earlier in the month, it had called in security experts after its systems had detected an unauthorised attempt to access one of its databases.
The subsequent investigation suggested that there had been a security breach in the Starwood database since 2014 (no, that's not a typo) and that the personal and private details of up to 500 million guests had been compromised.
I’ve Finally Booked A Big Ticket Marriott Redemption For Next Year
Since Marriott introduced its new award chart in August it has been possible to book awards at numerous aspirational properties around the world for just 60,000 points per night but, sadly, that's only going to be the pricing for a limited time.
The window to book these properties for 60,000 points per night will probably close on 1 January 2019 when Marriott is expected to introduce a Category 8 level into its award chart - a category into which all the aspirational properties will be placed.
Marriott Hacked – Up To 500 Million Starwood Accounts Are Affected
Here we go again! What is it with big corporations and their inability to keep our information safe?!
We're only just getting over the Cathay Pacific hack and the debacle that was the British Airways hack and now we're being told that Marriott's Starwood database (containing the information of 500 million customers) has been compromised by an "unauthorised party".
Here’s The Problem With Marriott’s Suite Upgrades
Before Marriott Rewards and SPG were merged Marriott didn’t officially offer its elites upgrades to suites. Very occasionally (and usually on short trips) Marriott properties have upgraded me to a suite in the past but, more often than not, the upgrades I’ve received have been to a slightly larger room on a high floor.
That’s always been fine for me as I rarely need the space that a suite offers but I know that the lack of suite upgrades has been a bugbear for some.
Those crying out for suite upgrades had their wish granted when Marriott updated its elite benefits following the merger of the Marriott Rewards and SPG loyalty programs but, now that the new rules are in place, I’m not sure guests will be getting what they may expect.
Marriott Is Trialling Facial Recognition Check-In (And I Think I’ve Spotted A Flaw)
Sometimes I think that airlines and hotels have too much time and/or money on their hands and the news last week that Marriott is trialling facial recognition software to help with the check-in process does little to quash that opinion.
I’m Quietly Confident About Aspirational Marriott Award Availability
A number of people have been saying that having the likes of the St Regis Bora Bora and the St Regis Maldives Vommuli priced at 60,000 points/night is only really a good deal on paper.
In reality, they say, award availability will be very limited (due to demand) so only a few of us will be able to get the reservations we want.
I see things in a slightly different way.
Marriott Announces New Hotel Categories – Book Amazing Properties from 60,000 Points
We've known about the new Marriott award chart (kicking in from 1 August 2018) for some time but it hasn't really meant all that much up until now because Marriott hadn't confirmed what categories its hotels would be placed in.
The hotelier gave us an indication of what to expect back in April but, as I noted at the time, there was quite a bit they left out.
In its examples Marriott didn't include all the properties in each city/region that it was using to explain how things would look, we weren't told how peak- and off-peak seasons would be split and there was still uncertainty over how all-suite properties would be treated.
Marriott Will Introduce Amazon Alexa To Select Hotels
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about Air France integration coming to Amazon's Alexa and now it looks like Marriott is taking things a step further as it brings Alexa into its hotel rooms.
A New Westin Hotel Is Coming To Central London
Marriott already has a strong presence in London with 10 very centrally located hotels and, counting the Starwood properties, that number increases to a very impressive 17. However, apparently 17 isn't enough for the guys in Betheseda because Marriott has recently announced that it will open a new Westin in central London in 2020.
Starwood Promotion: Get 40% Off Every 2nd Night (Americas)
Starwood is running a promotion which is offering 40% off every second night at stays in various properties throughout the Americas. There doesn't appear to be an end date for this promotion in the terms and conditions so it could be around for some time or disappear as quickly as it appeared.
Marriott’s Autograph Collection Plans New Belize Resort
I loved Belize when I visited it a few years ago. I visited outside of the busy season (May) so where I was staying was beautifully tranquil and the scuba diving was fantastic. I've been looking for a reason to return and it's just possible that Marriott is about to give me one.
Starwood Will Open A New Luxury Resort In Cabo This June
Back in 2015 Starwood announced that, in collaboration with its hotel owners, it was investing $300m into bringing its Luxury Collection of properties up to modern luxury standards. The $300m was split between renovating existing properties and bringing new properties into the fold and we'll soon see one of the very newest Luxury Collection properties open its doors.
Solaz, a Luxury Collection Resort, broke ground in June 2015 and was meant to be completed by June 2017 but Starwood has just announced that the property will open in June this year (2018)....so just a year late!
News: Emirates Improves Houston Service Significantly, New Ritz-Carlton In The Caribbean & More
A roundup of some of the latest airline and hotel news announced recently. Includes details of a new Ritz-Carlton resort coming to the Caribbean, news that Emirates will restart its A380 service between Dubai and Houston, information on how you can check-in a case of wine for free on Alaska Airlines & details of when the Malaysia Airlines lounges in Kuala Lumpur will reopen.
Contrarian View: Marriott’s Hotel Category Changes Are Not That Bad
Last week I analysed the changes Marriott announced that it would be making to its hotel categories from March 6th onwards. I concluded that the changes are clearly a net negative but I also said that I didn't think they were quite as bad as some are making them out to be.
I've now had time to take another look at the changes that are coming and I think I've found another way of looking at them.
Marriott Will Open A New Las Vegas Property In 2020 – The Drew Las...
If you're looking to book a Las Vegas vacation on Marriott.com you'll find that the chain will offer you 20 properties in the Las Vegas area. If you throw Starwood into the mix you'll find another 6 properties on offer. That's sounds like a good amount of choice until you realise that 16 of the properties aren't full-service establishments and that only 3 are anywhere near the center of the Strip.
Marriott Hotels Category Changes In Detail (2018 Edition)
Following Marriott’s hotel category moves late last week I’ve taken a closer look at the changes Marriott is putting through and pulled out some of the more interesting statistics.
I’ve taken a look at Marriott’s hotel category changes by region, by significant brand and on a holistic level to try to get a better idea of just what these changes mean and to see if they’re as bad as some are saying they are.
Are the latest Marriott hotel category changes really the “bloodbath” that some are suggesting or are they something else?
Review: Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel At Circular Quay
I only had three nights in Sydney on this trip so it was important to me that I booked somewhere central and within an easy walk of most things I'd like to see and do while I was in town. I was also keen to spend as little as possible while still enjoying a good amount of comfort so that meant booking a property with points and with a chain at which I have status. All of this made the Sydney Harbour Marriott a logical place to stay.
Introduction: Sydney For 3 Nights Using A Super Cheap Business Class Fare & Points
Whenever possible I like to write an introduction to the trips I take to give readers an idea of how much things cost, how I book and when I use points and when I choose to part with some cash. The point of this is to hopefully show just how doable these trips are and how, with a little bit of planning and a little bit of flexibility, these are trip that a lot of people can book.
For this trip I managed to combine a truly fantastic offer from an online travel agency with some Marriott points to book myself a business class flight and three nights in one of my favorite cities in the world.
Is It “Gauche” To Ask For A Room Upgrade You’re Entitled To?
On a recent visit to the JW Marriott Hong Kong I found myself at the front desk politely requesting a room upgrade my Platinum status entitles me to (per Marriott's own rules). I posted this fact in my review of the property and a reader commented that he agreed with my stance but that a poster on Flyertalk had said that requesting an upgrade was "gauche" (even if it's an upgrade you're entitled to).
Marriott’s Strange New Innovation For Its Shower Doors
I'm sure most people have, at least at one point in their life, used the condensation on a mirror or a shower door to doodle a picture or to write a message. Well, apparently Marriott wants to tap into this practice with a new innovation.
Up To 35% Off Marriott UK Properties In The Cyber Sale
Marriott USA came out with a Black Friday sale yesterday which was more of an embarrassment to the brand than any kind of sale that guests will be interested in (Starwood followed suit), so it's great to see Marriott in the UK making an effort to pull together a sale in which you can actually get some value.
Starwood’s Cyber Sale 2017 Is Now Bookable….But It’s Terrible
Earlier I posted details of what Marriott is attempting to pass off as it's biggest sale of the year (it's woeful) and now it's Starwood's turn to dazzle or disappoint with its Black Friday/Cyber Monday offering for 2017.
Marriott Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale Is Live
Marriott has launched what it's calling its biggest sale of the year in honor of the start of the spending season. The Marriott Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale is now on and will run through to 27 November 2017.
I'm not entirely sure how Marriott can call this its biggest sale of the year when it only applies to properties in North America, the Caribbean and Latin America...but then I'm not in marketing so I'm not programmed to write nonsense.
Marriott Will Open 7 New Luxury EDITION Hotels In 2018
Despite the fact that I'm a Marriott Platinum guest and the fact that I rack up at least 75 nights a year with the hotel mega-chain I have never stayed at an EDITION property.
This doesn't have anything to do with the quality of the properties nor does it have anything to do with the fact that the all-caps name appears to be screaming at me from my screen - it has everything to do with the fact that there are currently just 4 Edition properties world-wide.
Review: JW Marriott Singapore South Beach
I normally don't have more than one or two reasons for booking a particular hotel but, in the case of the JW Marriott Singapore South Beach, I had four very good reasons for wanting to visit. Firstly I wanted to use up some of my Marriott Rewards points, secondly I wanted a property where we would be making the most of my hotel status (I have Platinum status with Marriott), thirdly the hotel looked to have a convenient location and finally I don't think any of the bigger blogs has reviewed this property yet - it's still reasonably new.
REMINDER: 35% Off Awards At Some of Starwood’s Most Expensive Properties
For the last couple of years (it may be longer) Starwood has run a quiet but popular promotion which sees some of the chain's most expensive properties (from an award cost point of view) reduced in price by an impressive 35%....and the promotion is still running.
Marriott Opens The Ritz-Carlton Langkawi & The Ritz-Carlton Geneva
Marriott has announced the opening of the Ritz-Carlton Langkawi in Malaysia as well as the opening of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix in Geneva. The former is a new oceanfront luxury resort (Marriott's first resort in Malaysia) while the second is the result of a multi-million dollar renovation of the Hotel de la Paix in Geneva.
Rome Will Get The First W Hotel In Italy
W Hotels has been doing quite a bit of expansion in Europe recently with the W Amsterdam opening in late 2015, the W Madrid scheduled to open next year and more W Hotels currently under construction in cities like Prague, Belgrade and Budapest. Now Italy is to get a W Hotel too.
The JW Marriott Hong Kong Reviewed (Lots Of Pictures!)
I booked the JW Marriott Hong Kong for a number of reasons but the two main ones were that I'd heard good things about the property overall and I'd heard good things about the Executive Lounge that, as a Marriott Platinum member, I would have access too. After a good Business Class flight from Tokyo I was looking forward to finding out if the hotel lived up to the reviews.
Starwood’s Fall 2017 Promotion Is Out – SPG Explore More
Now that Marriott owns Starwood the two are coordinating their promotions a lot more closely (to the extent that both released their fall promotions at the same time) so, after having seen the disappointing Marriott MegaBonus promotion, I was a little concerned at what Starwood would offer.
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