WASHINGTON, July 24, 2007 - Today's fast-paced world demands
mobile communications, but never at the expense of value. Five Marriott
International (NYSE: MAR) brands including Courtyard, Residence Inn, Fairfield
Inn, TownePlace Suites and SpringHill Suites, now offer guests free WiFi
hotels in the U.S. and Canada. That's more than 1,500 hotspots, and that's
pretty cool.
Having introduced free guest room high-speed and WiFi Internet access
three years ago, these five Marriott brands are again responding to guests'
needs, eliminating WiFi charges for guests in lobbies and other public
areas. This means for on-the-go guests free WiFi hotels are a part of Marriott's
overall package of services designed to enhance guests' experiences in
the new lobby and public spaces being introduced by most of these brands.
The multi-purpose, multi-functional, yet stylish, interiors are being designed
for guests to work, relax and socialize, while offering greater access
to technology, like free WiFi hotel hotspots.
Whether it is moderately priced select-service brands, like Courtyard,
Fairfield Inn or SpringHill Suites, or extended-stay brands designed for
lengthier visits, like Residence Inn or TownePlace Suites, each caters
to a unique guest. Marriott International has identified a range of business
travelers from the achievement guest who is the productivity-driven, savvy
business traveler, to the lifestyle guest who makes time to take in the
local culture and all the hotel has to offer while remaining productive.
-
After having launched the successful renovations of its guest rooms,
Courtyard by Marriott is undertaking an ambitious project to enhance
the guest experience in its lobbies, such as more technology, food options
and social opportunities. While the Courtyard business traveler is
primarily work-focused, they also enjoy getting out of their room to enjoy
the locality, if time permits.
-
Fairfield Inn is home to purpose-driven travelers who are looking
for their hotel to help them achieve their goals, whether they are business
or personal. For them, Fairfield Inn's comfortable guest room and
complementary hot breakfast are just right. Fairfield Inn remains
focused on delivering what its guests value most: consistency, simplicity
and control, and is introducing a new guest room design that will enable
even greater productivity and enhancing the brand's breakfast offerings.
-
SpringHill Suites is rolling out a fresh, new guest experience from
lobby and room design, to amenities that will appeal even more to its typical
guest, the lifestyle traveler who enjoys business travel as an opportunity
to experience new things. The brand combines style with space and
light, airy guest rooms that are 25 percent larger than its competitors.
-
Residence Inn, the extended stay leader, is focused on a new lobby
design and social activities that will help its guests -- those away from
home for up to weeks at a time -- find balance and remain productive.
The brand is also in the midst of rolling out its newest guest room design
with stylish furnishings and stainless steel kitchen appliances.
-
TownePlace Suites primarily appeals to the travelers on long business
trips who want the hotel to be their base of operations, enabling them
to do things on their own. The new guest rooms offer larger moveable
desks and ample storage areas so guests can create their own space.The
new intuitive lobby design enables "do it yourself" guests to easily take
care of themselves.
Each brand has an impressive number of hotels under development or construction,
such as the first Fairfield Inn in Manhattan, a SpringHill Suites and Residence
Inn in downtown Chicago, a TownePlace Suites in Boston and Courtyard in
downtown Atlanta. As each new hotel is unveiled, the number of free WiFi
hotel hotspots for guests will continue to grow.
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE: MAR) is a leading lodging company
with more than 2,900 lodging properties in the United States and 68 other
countries and territories. |