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| Jan. 13, 2005 -- A few mouse clicks and room service will be
waiting upon your arrival.
And the local weather report will help you decide what to pack. Or the
convenience of an airport shuttle can be confirmed. These are just a
few of the services that guests will be able to request online via
Marriott International, Inc.'s At Your Service(R) pre-arrival planning
service and "virtual concierge," effective Jan. 25. Marriott's At Your Service(R) program focuses on the total guest experience from point of reservation to check-out. As part of the pre-arrival planning service, guests will receive a personalized e-mail* five days prior to check-in that includes local transportation, weather and restaurant information, as well as directions and maps. This service will be offered at nearly 2,500 hotels worldwide, including Marriott Hotels & Resorts, JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Renaissance Hotels & Resorts, Courtyard, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites and Marriott Conference Centers. At a growing number of hotels and resorts, the service will be expanded as a "virtual concierge." Guests will be able to reserve spa treatments, room service for delivery upon arrival, and other amenities specific to each hotel. They may also request complimentary amenities that each hotel offers, such as extra pillows, miniature refrigerators and early check-in/late check-out. Marriott plans to continue adding useful and timely information and services as it expands the "virtual concierge." "The pre-arrival planning service and 'virtual concierge' are based exclusively on feedback from guests, who asked for information about their stay that is personalized, reassuring and timely," said Senior Vice President of Marketing Rita Cuddihy. "According to our research, more than 80 percent of guests said they'd be more likely to book their next trip with Marriott if they received this type of service." Also recently implemented as part of the At Your Service(R) program are enhancements to Marriott.com. With more than 20,000 new photos of hotels and resorts, guests can make even more informed decisions. Other improvements include an easier process for Marriott Rewards(R) members to redeem their points online. The pre-arrival planning service and "virtual concierge" build upon the success of the At Your Service(R) system already in place at full-service hotels. Rather than calling various numbers to request different services, guests simply press the At Your Service(R) button from their in-room phones to speak with one guest service associate. These new offerings are a component of the new look and feel of Marriott, a fresh approach influenced by the world's foremost innovations in design, technology, culinary expertise, service and comfort. Guests will begin to experience this evolution across Marriott brands this year, in new hotel designs, exotic destinations, enhanced fitness centers, sumptuous spas and expanded culinary offerings, as well as new luxury bedding. MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. is a leading lodging company with more than 2,600 lodging properties in the United States and 64 other countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites, and Bulgari brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club International, Horizons, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Marriott Grand Residence Club brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers. The company is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has approximately 128,000 employees. It is ranked as the lodging industry's most admired company and one of the best places to work for by Fortune(R) magazine. In fiscal year 2003, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $9 billion. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at http://www.marriott.com/ * Guests who have provided Marriott International with their e-mail address will receive a personalized e-mail five days prior to check-in. CONTACT: John Wolf, +1-301-380-5718, [email protected], or Stephanie Hampton, +1-301-380-1217, [email protected], both of Marriott International, Inc. Web site: http://www.marriott.com/ Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/532963.html CO: Marriott International, Inc. ST: District of Columbia IN: LEI TRA MLM SU: PDT -- -- CW00612012005en 12/01/2005 14:00 UTC http://www.prnewswire.com |
