Two giant hospitality conglomerates, Marriott (Marriott, Renaissance, Editions, Ritz-Carlton) and Starwood (Sheraton, W, Le Meridien, St. Regis), is merging to create the world’s largest lodging company. Here, Craig Smith, the president and managing director of Marriott Asia Pacific, tells all about what’s in the pipeline after the two massive companies become one. The headman, joined with Gerd Kotlorz, Marriott Asia Pacific’s area director of sales & marketing, and Karl Hudson, Marriott Asia Pacific’s area vice president, also reveals few up-and-coming projects and plans for Thailand.
Your reward points are not going anywhere
Marriott and Starwood are now one company—so are your reward points in Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) and Marriott Rewards accounts. Not only from points earned from your previous stays at Marriott and Starwood hotels are merged, but you also have better chance to collect more rewards points from a larger portfolio of hotels and partners. Collective points can get you complimentary nights at thousands of hotels and resorts around the world. SPG members will also be able to take advantage of Marriott Rewards, which include lowest rates guaranteed for direct bookings, late check out until 16:00 and many more benefits based on your membership status.
Marriott is now the world’s largest hotel chain
Mariott International is parenting more than 5,700 hotels under 30 brands in 110 countries. From Ritz-Carlton and St.Regis to W and Edition, globetrotters now have more choices of hotel accommodation to suit your purpose. In Thailand, they manage 40 hotels in 15 different brands–and that includes the much-awaited Edition hotel opening in 2017.
Say sawasdee to Thailand’s first Marriott Marquis hotel
The legendary Imperial Queen's Park Hotel has undergone a head-to-toe renovation and has reopened as Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park – Thailand’s very first Marriott Marquis hotel. What’s special about this brand? Marquis is a new brand Marriott has developed to manage MICE-focused properties. A Marquis hotel needs to have at least 1,000 rooms, is situated in downtown area, and provides more than 5,000sqm of meeting and banqueting space. With 1,360 guest rooms, 36 meeting rooms, and a prime location in Soi Sukhumvit 22, Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park has become Asia-Pacific’s first hotel to handsomely be crowned such status. Oh, did we mention the hotel is pleasing Bangkok diners with more than 10 restaurants?
A new Phuket resort has opened
Soon after the soft-launch of Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach has been unveiled to the public eyes. The resort sits peacefully on Tri-Trang Beach, a famous sea-swimming and diving spot.
And there are more to come…
Among 19 new hotel projects in Marriott Thailand’s pipeline, we’re more excited about The Edition hotel in Bangkok. The Edition is Marriott’s new luxury boutique hotel brand run by Ritz-Carlton and the acclaimed hotelier Ian Schrager with four hotels in London, New York, Miami and Sanya – and Bangkok will be its fifth location. The 155-room Bangkok Edition is nestled in the first 20 floors of the iconic MahaNakhon skyscraper and is scheduled to open in 2017.
