Marriott Sees Business And Leisure Travel Increasing

Hotel room rates have risen in the last year but they are still down 10 percent from before the 2008 economic downturn, Arne Sorenson, president of Marriott International, told CNBC Thursday. Now, however, he sees business and leisure travel increasing at all Marriott’s brands, including its luxury Ritz-Carlton and its Courtyard motels for business travelers. [...]

Marriott's $46 million tax abatement still a hot topic

Public debate continues over the D.C. Council’s decision to grant a $46 million dollar tax abatement to Marriott for a luxury hotel planned in Adams Morgan. The abatement, which exempts the hotel from paying real estate taxes for 20 years, has drawn the ire of many concerned about the District’s $440 million budget shortfall and [...]

$400 Million JW Marriott Slated To Open In Chicago On November 11

On November 11 the new JW Marriott hotel at 208 S. La Salle is scheduled to open and it promises to bring North Michigan Avenue panache to the work-aday canyons of the Loop. Hotel markets are notoriously cyclical, and this business will open as demand for lodging is improving, but not too rapidly. At 610 rooms, the [...]

Ritz-Carlton will give you a toaster, service, and now a 'loyalty' program

Ritz-Carlton will introduce a loyalty rewards program in response to declining room rates in the luxury hotel industry. The chain long insisted that its customers were not interested in such a scheme. But with the average cost of a Ritz room at $297 at the end of the second quarter, 19% below the 2008 rate, [...]

Marriott reflags Dearborn Ritz to The Henry

 Marriott International Inc. will bring its latest hotel concept to the Detroit area as it replaces the Ritz Carlton name in Dearborn with a new brand. Known as being part of the Ritz Carlton chain of luxury hotels since it was built 21 years ago, the hotel at 300 Town Center Drive has been renamed [...]