Marriott Hotels is outfitting guests at a selection of Caribbean and Latin American properties with GoPro HERO4 cameras.

Guests at Latin American and Caribbean Marriott hotels are being offered the chance to test drive GoPro HERO4 cameras. At participating properties, all a guest needs to do is ask for the complimentary camera during check-in. After filming, guests can instantly share their videos on social media alongside the hashtags #travelbrilliantly, #viajegenial and #gopro.

Content submitted using the hashtags will have a chance to be featured on Marriott’s website. The content will also be used on Marriott’s social media channels and the in-room entertainment systems. Participating guests even have the chance to win their own GoPro, reward points or vacation stays.

The program is available at the following hotels:

• Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino
• CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort
• CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa
• Costa Rica Marriott Hotel San Jose
• Curacao Marriott Beach Resort & Emerald Casino
• Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort
• Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort
• JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa
• JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort
• JW Marriott Hotel Lima
• JW Marriott Hotel Quito
• JW Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeiro
• JW Marriott El Convento Cusco
• JW Marriott Panama Golf & Beach Resort
• Los Sueños Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort
• San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino
• St. Kitts Marriott Resort & The Royal Beach Casino

“Next generation travelers are looking for ways to create and share their experiences and Marriott has made it a priority to constantly introduce innovation into our hotels that is engaging and fits their digital lifestyle,” Craig Smith, Marriott’s Caribbean and Latin American president, said in a release.

[Photo & Video: Marriott International]

Netflix is expanding to hotels with eight Marriott properties offering the system through in-room entertainment.

Across eight test hotels, Marriott is offering guests the opportunity to use streaming services through the in-room entertainment systems. Guests have three different streaming services to choose from: Netflix, Hulu and Pandora. If the test is successful, the chain will expand streaming services to all of its properties. The overall goal for Marriott is to reinvent their in-room entertainment services.

“We have invited leading technology companies and content providers to work with us to design the next wave in in-room entertainment focusing on on-demand programming,” John Wolf, a spokesman for Marriott, told Bloomberg News. “We are currently offering guests in eight test hotels the opportunity to stream their content through our high-definition TVs from multiple content providers.”

Guests at all Marriott hotels can currently access Netflix and other streaming services through their own devices, but this will make the process much more streamlined. It’s still up in the air, though, how the service will be billed — either on its own for a fee or combined with the cost for an elevated internet package.

With Marriott’s properties reaching across 79 countries and more than 700,000 rooms worldwide, this could mean big profits for both the hotel chain and the streaming service providers. All involved expect the move to bring in new travelers who want to experience more than regular television, as well new customers for the service providers.

[Photo: Netflix]

Marriott hopes hotels with smaller rooms will woo younger customers to its new Moxy brand of hotels.

Marriott is preparing to launch a new brand of hotels in the U.S. Moxy, Marriot’s 18th brand, will have smaller-than-average rooms, clocking in at 183 square feet as opposed to the hospitality industry’s typical 250 to 300 square feet. The design will be minimalist and feature “industrial-chic” accents, such as concrete floors, exposed columns and unique furniture. This is Marriott’s latest attempt to draw in younger customers and a more modern crowd.

Moxy is already open in Milan, but has approved agreements for locations in New York, San Francisco, New Orleans and Seattle. A one-night stay will cost around $240 in New York, which is slightly below the city’s $260 average cost for a hotel night. Each of the properties will have between 160 and 200 rooms, but no restaurant. There will, however, be a full bar and a 24-hour grab-and-go convenience stand with food.

In addition to smaller rooms, Moxy will be on the forefront of hotel technology. Guests will be able to use mobile devices as room keys, and the beds will have motion-activated lights underneath so it’s easier to see in the middle of the night.

Marriott is not the first to dip into the mini-room concept. Various mini-room properties in the U.S. already exist, and they make a profit, including Yotel, Pod Hotel and CitizenM. However, the majority of the guests at the aforementioned hotels are not stateside, but international, where the microhotel idea is already flourishing.

[Photos: Marriott International]

Marriott International has released the trailer from the first film by its in-house global content studio.
Marriott recently released the trailer for the first 15-minute short it will produce with its in-house marketing film studio. “Two Bellmen” tells a story about a pair of bellmen who become friends while stopping an attempted art theft. The dance, music and parkour collective Substance Over Hype collaborated with the Marriott on the production, the trailer for which is now available on YouTube.

“Marriott helped fulfill our desire to build on a comedic hotel bellman routine we’d developed a while back,” said Substance Over Hype’s Director Malakai. “The JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A LIVE provided us both a context AND setting for that story. We created a role for the hotel that showcased all its beauty and amenities and combined it with all the stuff we do with dance, stunts and comedy. From there, it just flowed.”

The hotel company is planning to use the films as a subtle marketing initiative. While Marriott is featured as a backdrop for the first film, it doesn’t play any roles other than that.

“We understand as a brand that today’s millennial audience does not engage with traditional advertising,” said David Beebe, Marriott’s vice president of creative and content marketing.

The ultimate goal is to create an emotional connection with the films which then in turn brings customers into Marriott hotels because the company is perceived as youthful and fun. “Two Bellmen” will be released on YouTube in its entirety March 10. The film will also be screened during a party at the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE.

Marriott plans to create these short films for each of its 19 brands and screen them on location.

[Photo: Marriott; Video: Two Bellman YouTube]

If you’re among those who like to plan early and not wait until the last minute to save money on travel, Daily Getaways is the promotion for you.

Unlike other travel sites which provide specials at the 11th hour, Daily Getaways allows travelers to take advantage of early savings on hotel packages, rental cars, rewards points and theme park admissions that are valid through the end of 2015 or beyond.

The Daily Getaways promotion, which is brought to you by the U.S. Travel Association, has typically launched in mid to late spring in previous years. This year, in its sixth year, select offers from five weeks of special savings will be previewed beginning March 16 and launched to the public starting Monday, March 23.

Every weekday from March 23-April 22, a top travel brand is featured on DailyGetaways.com. Each brand offers exclusive deals which go on sale promptly at 1 p.m. EDT with savings upwards of 50 percent. Top travel brands include: Alamo®, Caesars Entertainment, Hertz®, Hilton Hotels & Resorts®, Hyatt Hotels, Marriott International®, MGM Resorts International™, Omni Hotels®, SeaWorld®, Universal Hollywood^SM and Universal Orlando^SM and more. Of the more than 20 participating brands, new to the program this year is Expedia.

Daily Getaways is the perfect way to plan great summer vacations or fun excursions in late spring or fall, that takes advantage of cost-saving opportunities in shoulder seasons. This is particularly true with the reward points offers as savvy travelers can bundle these into greater savings during off-peak travel periods.

And with gas prices down this year, summer is an ideal time to load up the kids and re-create the “All-American” family road trip you enjoyed so much as a child. U.S. Travel’s Daily Getaways provide a one-stop shop to plan this type of getaway thanks to deeply-discounted specials from major rental car companies and hotel chains.

Please note that quantities are limited, so make sure to check the website – www.DailyGetaways.com – each weekday at 1:00 p.m. EDT to score big savings from some of the world’s best-known travel brands. You can also keep up on the latest deals via @DailyGetaways on Twitter as well as following the #DailyGetaways hashtag.

But wait, that’s not all! Below is a sneak peek at the schedule for Daily Getaways, exclusively for readers of FlyerTalk …

WEEK 1: MARCH 23-27, 2015

Monday, March 23: Alamo Rent A Car Certificates

• $50 certificate for $25 (2,000 available)

Tuesday, March 24: : InterContinental Hotels Rewards Club Points

• 15,000 IHG Rewards Club points for $90 (1,000 available)
• 25,000 IHG Rewards Club points for $150 (1,000 available)
• 50,000 IHG Rewards Club points for $293 (1,500 available)
• 100,000 IHG Rewards Club points for $565 (3,850 available)

Wednesday, March 25: Gold Points from Club Carlson (Radisson)

• 50,000 Club Carlson Gold Points for $225 (100 available)
• 100,000 Club Carlson Gold Points for $450 (50 available)

Thursday, March 26: Diamond Resorts International

• 5-night stay at any of 68 Diamond Resorts International for $525 (200 available)

Friday, March 27: Hilton HHonors points

• 100,000 Hilton HHonors Points for $500 (160 available)
• 150,000 Hilton HHonors Points for $750 (200 available)
• 250,000 Hilton HHonors Points for $1,250 (200 available)

WEEK 2: MARCH 30-APRIL 3, 2015

Monday, March 30: Best Western Rewards Points

• 10,000 Reward points for $55 (835 available)

Tuesday, March 31: Palazzo/Venetian Hotel Suites in Las Vegas

• Two nights in a Seina Suite at the Palazzo for $608 (42 available)
• Two nights in a Piazza View Suite at the Venetian for $495 (50 available)

Wednesday, April 1: Caesars Las Vegas Getaways

• 2 nights at The Cromwell, dinner, limo service for $590 (5 available)
• 3 nights at Caesars Palace, show tickets, dinner, limo for $1,400 (10 available)
• 2 nights at The Parisian, dinner, spa treatments for $350 (5 available)
• 2 nights at LINQ Hotel, show tickets, limo service for $350 (20 available)
• 2 nights at Bally’s, show tickets, dinner, limo service for $315 (5 available)

Wednesday, April 1: Harrah’s Atlantic City

• 2 nights at Harrah’s, dinner, limo service for $650 (10 available)

Thursday, April 2: Universal Studios Hollywood

• Four-pack of two-day Universal Studios Hollywood tickets for $313 (115 available)

Friday, April 3: Choice Hotels

• 40,000 Choice Privileges Points: good for two nights at Cambria Suites for $160 (380 available)
• 36,000 Choice Privileges Points: good for three nights at Comfort Inn for $155 (785 available)
• 32,000 Choice Privileges Points: good for two nights at Comfort Suites for $132 (655 available)
• 20,000 Choice Privileges Points: good for two nights at Sleep Inn for $90 (220 available)

WEEK 3: APRIL 6-10, 2015

Monday, April 6: Avis Deals

• One day car rental for $30 (700 available)
• One Avis Chairman’s Club Membership, arranged via e-mail for $1,115 (15 available)

Tuesday, April 7: Omni Hotels & Resorts

• One night at an exclusive Omni Hotel for $238 (10 available)
• Two nights at an Omni Premier Resort for $338 (33 available)
• Two nights at select Omni Hotels for $245 (49 available)
• Two nights at Omni Hotel & Resorts for $162 (36 available)

Wednesday, April 8: Loews Hotels

• Two nights in a suite at Loews Regency in New York City for $1000 (5 available)
• Two nights at one of four Four-Diamond Loews Resorts for $325 (20 available)
• Two nights at one of 15 Luxury Loews Hotels for $275 (16 available)
• Two nights in the Grand King Suite at Loews Santa Monica for $950 (5 available)
• Two nights in an ocean view suite at Loews South Beach $1000 (5 available)

Thursday, April 9: Las Vegas Hotel Packages

• Three-night getaway at Mandalay Bay, dinner, show tickets for $1,525 (6 available)
• Two nights in a spa suite at New York, New York, dinner, show tickets for $475 (4 available)
• Four nights in a suite at Excalibar, show tickets for $475 (8 available)
• VIP two-night getaway at the penthouse at Hotel 32, dinner, show tickets for $1,050 (6 available)
• Three nights in a suite at the Mirage, two dinners, two shows for $1,780 (8 available)

Friday, April 10: Hyatt Hotels

• Two nights in a Hyatt Premium Hotel worldwide for $260 (95 available)
• Two nights in a Hyatt Elite Hotel worldwide for $330 (35 available)
• Two nights in a Hyatt Top Hotel worldwide for $415 (15 available)
• Three nights in a Hyatt Elite Hotel suite worldwide for $775 (15 available)

WEEK 4: APRIL 13-17, 2015

Monday, April 13: Universal Studios Orlando

• Four 3-day tickets to Universal Orlando’s two theme parks for $700 (40 available)
• Private VIP priority experience for a group of up to 12 people for $3,042 (1 available)
• Four-day family vacation package including airfare, hotel & parks for $2,472 (10 available)

Tuesday, April 14: Caesars Las Vegas Getaways

• 2-night VIP package for two at Harrah’s, including dinner, limo for $299 (10 available)
• 2-night VIP package for two at Caesars Palace, including dinner, limo for $465 (5 available)
• 2-night Caesar’s stay at choice of hotel, includes dinner, spa treatment, limo for $425 (10 available)
• 2-night getaway to NOBU Hotel Las Vegas, includes dinner for $590 (5 available)
• 2 nights at Planet Hollywood, includes dinner, show tickets, limo for $500 (10 available)
• 2 nights at Rio All-Suite Hotel, includes dinner, golf for two, limo for $520 (10 available)

Wednesday, April 15: Hertz Deals

• 5,500 Hertz Gold Plus Rewards points, good for one-week standard rental for $252 (45 available)
• 13,200 Hertz Gold Plus Rewards points, good for four-day Mercedes rental for $428 (35 available)
• 16,500 Hertz Gold Plus Rewards points, good for one-week Mercedes rental for $698 (50 available)

Thursday, April 16: SeaWord Parks & Entertainment tickets

• One-day ticket to Busch Gardens Tampa for just $45 per person (600 available)
• One-day ticket to any SeaWorld Park for just $49 per person (1,540 available)

Friday, April 17: Marriott International eGiftCards

• Receive a $100 Marriott eGiftCard for just $80 (410 available)
• Receive a $500 Marriott eGiftCard for just $400 (308 available)
• Receive a $1,000 Marriott eGiftCard for just $800 (75 available)

WEEK 5: APRIL 20-22, 2015 – Coming soon. These offers will be revealed in the coming weeks.

A Marriott employee denied lactation breaks is suing for sexual discrimination. The chain qualifies that, as she is a gestational surrogate, it was not legally required to accommodate her.

An employee of Marriott who says she was denied her legally mandated lactation breaks is now suing the chain for sexual discrimination. Experts believe that the suit brought forth by Mary Gonzales, an accountant and cashier at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Marriott, could have implications on future claims of workplace sexual discrimination.

In response to Gonzales’ claim, Marriott has said that, because she is a gestational surrogate rather than a mother with an infant, it was not legally required to grant Gonzales lactation breaks.

Gonzales gave birth in April 2014 and returned to work in June of that year. Upon her return, she took two half-hour breaks a day to pump breast milk to send to the child’s parents. However, once her obligation to send milk to the surrogate family ended, Gonzales continued pumping for health reasons and to donate her milk to women who were unable to breastfeed.

Gonzales claims that she was told by her boss that she could continue taking lactation breaks for another 30-day period. When this period expired, she pumped during her half-hour lunch break. Gonzales says that she suffered health issues as a result.

While she offered to present her employer with a doctor’s note in support of her continued breast pumping, Marriott refused to reinstate her lactation breaks.

In response to the suit, Marriott filed a motion to dismiss with the U.S. District Court of Central California.

This motion was denied last Wednesday by Judge Margaret M. Morrow, who wrote in her decision that, “A reasonable jury could conclude that Gonzales was subjected to the treatment she was because Marriott perceived she did not conform to stereotypical views of how women act as it relates to motherhood or child bearing.”

While the outcome of Gonzales’ suit is pending, it brings into question whether an employer should be party to the reasons for an employee’s pregnancy in order to assess whether or not accommodations like lactation breaks should be made. Gonzales’ case also brings a wider debate concerning the definition of sexual discrimination to the forefront of the legal sphere.

h/t Slate

[Photo: Marriott Hotels]

A homeless man collected identities from a temp job and dropped thousands in stolen money on hotels.

Move over Frank Abagnale, there’s a new cop-eluding con artist in town. Rafal Bogun, a 33-year-old homeless man in Queens, obtained a job at a law firm back in 2013 through a temp agency. While there, he used personal client information to steal about 20 identities. He took that information and used it to get credit cards—then used those cards to shop online and stay at NYC-area hotels. At each hotel, he’d use business center computers to get more credit cards and more merchandise.

All the while, Bogun managed to quietly evade police. They knew he had gone to Walmart to pick up items bought with one of the credit cards—they had him on video—and they found evidence a few months later that he stayed in a Marriot hotel using a fake ID.

“Similar to the lead character played by actor Leonardo DiCaprio in the movie ‘Catch Me If You Can,’ the defendant allegedly played out a complicated game of cat and mouse with law enforcement for over a year,” Queens District Attorney Richard Brown told the NY Daily News.

Bogun was finally caught last week in Penn Station by Amtrak police—he had been advertising discounted Amtrak tickets online and accidentally sold one to an undercover cop. Now, Bogun is facing up to seven years in prison. He’s been charged with identity theft, criminal possession of a forged instrument and fraud. His bail is set at $100,000.

[Image via Marriott]

Marriott agrees to buy Starwood in a cash and stock-swap deal for $12.2 billion.

Marriott International, Inc. announced Monday it would buy Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. to create the world’s largest hotel company for an estimated $12.2 billion in a combined stock-swap and cash transaction. Meanwhile, shareholder rights litigation firm Rigrodsky & Long, P.A. announced it is investigating the merger for possible breaches of fiduciary duties.

The merged companies will have 1.1 million hotel rooms in over 5,500 hotels in 100 countries. They will operate under 30 brand names including Marriott’s The Ritz-Carlton, Bvlgari, JW Marriott, Renaissance Hotels, Marriott Hotels, Courtyard, Residence Inn, and Fairfield Inn & Suites, and Starwood brands St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W, Westin, Le Méridien and Sheraton, among others. The deal is expected to close mid-2016.

“The driving force behind this transaction is growth,” said Arne Sorenson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Marriott International, in a press release Monday. “This greater scale should offer a wider choice of brands to consumers, improve economics to owners and franchisees, increase unit growth and enhance long-term value to shareholders.”

Under the deal’s terms, Starwood shareholders will receive 0.92 shares of Marriott Class A common stock and $2 cash for each share of Starwood common stock. On a pro forma basis, Starwood shareholders would own a 37 percent stake in the combined company after the merger’s completion, using fully diluted share counts as of Sept. 30.

Marriott will pay $11.9 billion in Marriott Internal stock based on the 20-day volume weighted average price (VWAP) of Marriott shares ending Nov. 13, at a current value of $72.08 per Starwood share, including the $2 cash per share.

Marriott will pay $340 million in cash. The transaction is based on 170 million fully diluted Starwood share, outstanding as of Sept. 30.

In addition, Starwood shareholders will receive $7.80 a share from Starwood’s spinoff timeshare business and subsequent merger with Interval Leisure Group, valued at an estimated $1.3 billion. The timeshare transaction is expected to close prior to the Marriott-Starwood merger completion.

In recent New York Stock Exchange trading, Starwood shares fell 3.75 percent, or $2.82 per share to $72.18, a decline of 17.98 percent from the stock’s April 29 52-week high of $87.99 per share.

Marriott shares remained virtually unchanged in recent Nasdaq trading, up 0.07 percent, or 5 cents a share to $72.79.

“Our board concluded that a combination with Marriott provides the greatest long-term value for our shareholders and the strongest and most certain path forward for our company,” J.W. Marriott, Jr., Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Marriott International, said in the press release.

The companies expect one-time transaction costs of between $100 million to $150 million. Transition costs expected to be incurred over the next two years are expected to be “meaningful,” but cannot currently be estimated.

Other terms of the deal include Marriott’s assumption of Starwood recourse debts. Sorenson will continue to serve as president and CEO of Marriott International and Marriott’s headquarters will stay in Bethesda, Maryland. When the deal is completed, Marriott expects to increase its board of directors from 11 to 14 members, which will include three members from Starwood’s board.

Shortly after the joint announcement, Rigrodsky & Long issued a press release which said it will investigate potential legal claims against the board of directors of Starwood regarding possible breaches of fiduciary duties and other violations of law related to its agreement to be acquired by Marriott.

“The investigation concerns whether Starwood’s board of directors failed to adequately shop the Company and obtain the best possible value for Starwood’s shareholders before entering into an agreement with Marriott,” Rigrodsky & Long said in the press release. “According to Yahoo! Finance, at least one analyst has issued a price target for Starwood stock at $96.00 per share.”

Rigrodsky & Long, P.A., with offices in Wilmington, Delaware and Garden City, New York, prosecutes securities class, derivative and direct actions, shareholder rights litigation and corporate governance litigation, on behalf of shareholders in states and federal courts throughout the United States.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Starwood, in hopes of fending off potential lawsuits, also announced Monday changes to its bylaws that set Maryland state court as the only place in which stockholders can sue the hotelier.

Lazard and Citigroup are Starwood’s financial advisors and Deutsche Bank Securities is the financial advisor to Marriott. Cravath, Swaine & Moore is Starwood’s legal counsel and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher is Marriott’s.

[Photos: Getty Images]

Following an acquisition, Marriott says it intends to keep nearly all of Starwood Hotels brands.

Around the middle of this year, Marriott will complete an acquisition of Starwood Hotels and Resorts to the tune of $12.2 billion. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that Starwood employees will be out of a job — the company’s CEO expects nearly all brands to stay functional under the Marriott umbrella.

“Marriott has made clear that their top priority as we integrate our companies is talent and their number one focus is people,” Starwood CEO Thomas Mangas said in a letter to hotel owners, reported by the Stamford Advocate. “They understand that there is anxiety in both organizations and among stakeholders like you. They plan to move quickly to make decisions and resolve uncertainty. They also recognize that they will need Starwood talent to facilitate new capabilities, fill new positions and to respond to the volume, scale and complexity that comes from creating a much larger business.”

Mangas is optimistic and thinks “most, if not all” of Starwood’s brands will stay on. He is spending much of his time throughout this merger going to bat for employees and making sure everyone gets what they need.

Marriott announced the merger back in November, with these comments from J.W. Marriott, the executive chairman and chairman of the board of Marriott International: “We have competed with Starwood for decades and we have also admired them. I’m excited we will add great new hotels to our system and for the incredible opportunities for Starwood and Marriott associates. I’m delighted to welcome Starwood to the Marriott family.”

[Photo illustration: Annamarie Hudson]

Marriott’s CEO recently told Starwood loyalty members not to worry, that everything will be OK.

With Marriott’s recent acquisition of Starwood in a deal that’s supposed to complete in June, it’s understandable that a lot of questions about loyalty programs would pop up. But Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson has tried to put everyone’s mind at ease. His message: “You’ll be OK.”

Throughout the acquisition process, the two hotel companies’ loyalty groups, Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest, have been vocal with their concerns, wondering what will happen to their rewards and plans. But Sorenson says not to worry—the merger will only create a bigger and better loyalty offering.

“[The combined plan will be] something that is even more powerful for our customers so they’ll say ‘Why should I get a card with anyone else?’ We’ve heard from SPG members loud and clear when they say ‘Tell me I’ll be OK,’” Sorenson told CNBC, as reported by Skift. “You’ll be OK. I want to make sure we continue to earn that loyalty.”

According to Skift, Sorenson’s statement just drove home a point he made earlier on a call with stakeholders about earnings: “How do you take these two leading loyalty programs in Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest and create something which is more powerful? The only concern we hear in response to the deal is Rewards and SPG members who want to know their points are protected. The principle reason for the deal is to redouble our commitment to them.”

[Photo: Marriott]

Renaissance hotels across the board are redesigning to be chic and high-end.

As Marriott continues to aggressively target millennial guests, the company is taking the initiative to remodel the entire Renaissance brand to give an urban yet high-end feel. The new look debuted in the Renaissance Montréal, which opened in January, and mixed street art with modern aesthetics. The new design is named “Fearlessly Chic.”

“The Renaissance Hotels brand is going through its own global ‘renaissance’ to meet the needs of the diverse, creative class of the next generation,” Toni Stoeckl, vice president of Lifestyle Brands for Marriott International, told USA Today.

In addition to the street art by a local artist, the Renaissance Montréal offers a live DJ, designer cocktails, a rooftop terrace and contemporary cuisine.

“Part of what’s happening in this industry is the need to meet the growing demands of our customers,” Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson told USA Today. “And that gives rise to a need for new brands, of course, but also for the reinvention of brands that exist, for new room prototypes for existing brands that have been around for generations already, for new mobile technologies and other things which are going to change in that space.”

The company plans to open another Renaissance in the Fearlessly Chic line soon in New York City, which will have digital display projections of neighborhood experiences, communal power tables for guests to work at and an interactive digital concierge called the “Renaissance Navigator.”

[Photo: Renaissance Montréal]

Executives for both hotel companies give different pitches for approving the revised proposal.

The stockholder campaign for Starwood Hotels and Resorts and Marriott International is heating up as the executives for both hotel chains plea with stockholders to approve their planned merger. In two letters to stockholders filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, both leaders gave different arguments as to why the hotel chains should come together.

Writing directly to Starwood shareholders, chief executive Thomas B. Mangas stressed the direct financial gain of the revised Marriott offer. Reaffirming the board of directors’ recommendation for the merger, Mangas called for every shareholder to submit an affirmative vote.

“Failure to vote will have the same effect as votes against the Starwood combination transactions proposal,” Mangas wrote. “Your vote is important no matter how many shares you hold.”

On the converse, Marriott chief executive Arne M. Sorenson touted the long-term value of the combined company in his stockholder letter. Going over the financial details in brief, the letter touted the company’s strong credit rating, the cost savings of combining the two companies and the positive outlook by attracting affluent travelers to their combined 30 hotel brands.

“There are significant opportunities to build value for both Marriott and Starwood stockholders from a combined company,” Sorensen wrote in the letter. “Our enhanced loyalty programs should increase access to new customers, create opportunities for new partnerships, and provide greater competitiveness in the digital marketplace.”

Marriott’s letter mirrored their overall publicity campaign for combining the two hoteliers, beginning with the revised proposal. In an infographic released shortly after the announcement, the Maryland-based hotelier illustrated the overall growth strategy for the two companies.

The hotels agreed to merge once again after Marriott increased their bid to $13.6 billion. Prior to that, Starwood was prepared to drop the Marriott takeover for an unsolicited bid by an investor group led by Anbang Insurance.

[Photo: Shutterstock]

Marriott reaffirms commitment to merge with Starwood despite increased bid.

An investor consortium led by Anbang Insurance has once again raised the ante for Starwood Hotels and Resorts, improving their bid in a second attempt to break up plans with Marriott Worldwide. The group will increase their purchase proposal to $82.75 per share, valuing Starwood at $14 billion.

Under the terms of the deal outlined in a Starwood press release, the proposal reflects an increase of $4.75 per share from their previous bid. Combined with the planned spin-off of the vacation rental business, the new bid could once again trigger a “superior proposal,” allowing the hotelier to temporarily suspend their plans with Marriott.

“Starwood’s Board, in consultation with its legal and financial advisors, determined that this proposal is reasonably likely to lead to a ‘Superior Proposal,'” the press release reads. “Allowing Starwood to engage in discussions with, and provide diligence information to, the Consortium in connection with its proposal.”

Despite the increased bid, Marriott remains dedicated to their plan to merge with Starwood. In a press release of their own, the hotel chain once again declared their belief that the plan reflects “the best course for both companies,” despite the higher purchase price by the Anbang consortium.

“The combined company will offer stockholders significant equity upside and greater long-term value driven by a larger global footprint, wider choice of brands for consumers, substantial revenue synergies, and improved economics to owners and franchisees,” the Marriott release declares. “Leading to accelerated global growth and continued strong returns.”

Marriott’s message mirrors their campaign to win over shareholders’ approval for the merge. Last week, the Maryland-based hotelier sent a letter to shareholders explaining the overall value proposition, leading with the growth opportunities for the combined hotel chain.

The Anbang-lead bid is the latest twist in the hotel merger triangle saga. On March 18, Starwood was prepared to end the proposed merger with Marriott in favor of the original Anbang proposal, only to reverse course when Marriott increased their bid to $13.6 billion.

[Photo: AP Photo/Andy Wong]

Independent operators claim the combined company would impede their business.

Two independent operators in two different cities are challenging the proposed merger between Marriott International and Starwood Hotels and Resorts, claiming the new company would violate contractual obligations to the owners. In a lawsuit filed in New York court on May 10, Cityfront Hotel Associates Limited and Dream Team Hotel Associates, LLC are suing both Starwood and Marriott, with the goal of stopping the merger as it stands today.

The independent operators run the Sheraton Grand Chicago and the Westin Times Square in New York. Under their current contract with Starwood, the independent owners claim Starwood has given them performance guarantees that could be potentially circumvented by the merge. In addition, the contracts stipulate geographical boundaries where Starwood cannot allow another branded hotel. The lawsuit alleges that the combination of Starwood and Marriott would violate those geographical exclusivity terms, with “no adequate remedy by law.”

The lawsuit comes as both hotel chains begin their plans to close their acquisition and begin their transition into one company. During their first quarter earnings report call, Marriott touted the strength of independent operators as part of their long-term strategy.

“We have roughly 4,500 hotels in our system. We own less than 10,” Arne Sorenson, chief executive of Marriott International, told investors on the call, according to Skift. “Those 10 are eventually all for sale. We’re not long-term holders of real estate … It’s a local experts’ game.”

Officials from Marriott and Starwood have not publicly commented on the lawsuit. The hotel chains have 30 days to respond to the allegations asserted against them.

[Photo: Sheraton Grand Chicago]

Marriott International received antitrust approval from the European Union on Monday for purchase of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc. The $12.1 billion deal will combine Marriott brands such as the Ritz-Carlton and Starwood’s Sheraton and Westin chains, effectively establishing Marriott as the world’s largest hotel company. “This is an important merger for the hotel industry and its customers. Our investigation confirmed that the hotel sector will remain competitive for customers in Europe following the merger,” said EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager of the deal.

To read more on this story, go to Reuters.

[Photo: TechDrive]

A tech professional from Brooklyn has scored a trip to catch the remaining Pokémon that are not available in the US.

Playing Pokémon Go does have its benefits. According to USA Today, Brooklyn-based Nick Johnson – who reportedly caught all 142 Pokémon available in North America – will be sponsored by Marriott Rewards as he embarks on a worldwide trip in order to catch the remaining Pokémon that are not available in the US.

A Marriott spokesperson has confirmed the trip, so that Johnson can catch Mr. Mime, Farfetch’d and Kangaskhan—these rare pocket monsters are reportedly available only in Europe, Asia and Australasia, respectively.

Johnson has worked hard to catch all Pokémon available and says that he feels great. “I was getting a lot of rest and exercise and meeting new people. I’m a lot healthier—I think I lost about 8-10 pounds.” According to USA Today, the player walked an average of 8 miles per day since the game was released on July 6.

As for advice to his fellow trainers, Johnson mentioned that talking to other players is essential. “I probably wouldn’t be here, having caught them all, if I hadn’t got those great tips like the Dratinis in Jersey City,” Johnson said.

Being a tech professional, Johnson says that his passion for platforms like these are a big part of what motivated him to play the game as much as he did. Besides growing up playing the Pokémon games, of course.

[Photo: Pokemon.com]

A spokesperson for Marriott Hotels announced today that the hotel chain will be forming a partnership with TED, a nonprofit “devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks.” Guests staying at Marriott properties will be given access to curated TED talks, blogs, and inspirational quotes during their stay. Marriott has also announced plans to introduce a series of five global TED Talks Fellows salons in Seattle, Dubai, London, Bangkok and Santiago throughout the remainder of 2016 and into early 2017.

Matthew Carroll, Vice President and Global Brand Manager of Marrior Hotels, said, “At Marriott Hotels, everything we do is guided by our belief that travel expands the mind and triggers new and creative ways of thinking. We know that travelers today look for more in a hotel and we are bringing to life new innovations that help elevate guests’ stay to memorable experiences.”

To read more on this story, go to PR Newswire.

[Photo: TED]

Fresh off the mega-merger that created the largest hotel company on the planet, Marriott unveiled its very first property in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The acquisition of Starwood Hotel and Resorts immediately made Marriott International the largest single hotelier in history. It seems, however, that the hospitality giant isn’t satisfied with its impressive standing as it moves forward with ambitious plans to expand its operations in Africa.

Approval from Chinese regulators was the final step in Marriott International’s bid to become the dominant force in the hospitality industry. The newly created conglomerate now controls more than half of the hotel room inventory in international markets that include Chicago, Mexico City, New York and Shanghai.

USA Today reports that the just-opened Marriott Hotel in Rwanda, a 254-room property that officially opened its doors on Tuesday, is now one of the largest hotels in the country.

Marriott International CEO Arne Sorenson told the newspaper that the takeover of Starwood provided a springboard into expanding new markets in Africa. “There are about 30 countries that are brand-new to us with the Starwood acquisition,” he noted. “How many of those would we have gotten into without this? I would think as a theoretical matter, most of them would be markets we would have had a shot at anyway but this obviously accelerates that global expansion which is one of the advantages of the deal.”

New Marriott branded hotels are currently in development in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Ethiopia.

[Photo: Marriott Hotels]

Marriott’s Convention and Resort Network upped its portfolio to 106 hotels with the addition of 39 Starwood properties.

Following the Marriott and Starwood merger, the new combined company is working to up its brand portfolio—with the most recent addition to Marriott’s Convention and Resort Network (CRN) earlier this year. Between January and June, 39 Starwood properties were added to the portfolio, bringing the total up to 106 properties in Canada, North America, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

“Yes, we have added a lot of new hotels this year, but we absolutely do not have a grow-at-any-cost approach,” Todd Sherstad, Marriott’s CRN director told Meetings and Conventions. “In fact, we are very particular about what hotels we invite. They have to meet certain physical as well as sales criteria and be a good fit for the other hotels in the network.”

The CRN is invite-only, and the new properties were 19 Sheraton hotels and 17 Westin hotels.

This year was also the CRN’s first foray into Canadian property, inviting two hotels in Toronto, one in Montreal, and one in Vancouver.

“Prior to the Olympics, Vancouver was not on a lot of peoples’ lips,” Sean Antonson, the regional director of sales and marketing at Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre, told Meetings and Conventions. “My understanding is that Marriott takes the CRN network very seriously, and we are learning as we go. We are looking to grow our inbound U.S. group segment, so it is definitely an important step for us.”

None of the newly invited properties to the CRN are from Delta Hotels and Resorts, which Marriott acquired in 2015 – and there are no plans in the works to include any of those properties, either, Sherstad said.

[Photo: Shutterstock]

Workers at 23 Marriott-operated hotels around the United States are currently on strike. Represented by labor union Unite Here, the nearly 7,700 workers in eight different cities are negotiating for wage increases and other workplace protections. The strike began with workers at one Marriott hotel in early October.

The Marriott hotel strike, launched by walkouts in early October, enters its second month as the world’s largest hotel chain continues to negotiate with workers organized under Unite Here. According to its website, the labor union represents American and Canadian workers in a number of industries, including hospitality. Nearly 7,700 workers, including housekeepers, cooks, bartenders, dishwashers, and concierges are participating in the strike, which has affected 23 different hotels in Boston, Detroit, San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, San Diego, Honolulu and Lahaina, Maui.

In a profile piece about the strike, The New York Times reports that a central piece of the negotiations involves the union’s request for wage increases that can meet rising cost of living expenses for workers based in expensive cities. Other concerns include job protections for workers in the face of increased automation (i.e. front-desk receptionists replaced with electronic check-in) and changes to time allotted for certain kinds of work.

For instance, workers are pointing out that Marriott’s “Make a Green Choice” program, which asks guests to forego daily housekeeping for environmental reasons, is a good cause, but that it can result in tight turnarounds for deep-cleaning rooms depending on when guests check out. Tips, already not the norm, also decrease if hotel guests use the service infrequently.

The strike has, of course, inconvenienced guests, including a family interviewed by The New York Times who were staying at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani in Oahu when workers there walked out. Edna Garcia recalls that she only learned of the strike when she was woken by chants from the picket line one morning. While Unite Here lists affected hotels on its website, the Marriott is not contacting guests regarding deceased amenities and services, since they deem their hotels still “operating and functional.”

Ms. Garcia was ultimately reimbursed by the hotel manager for part of her stay, but guests with upcoming Marriott bookings are advised to check and see if their hotel is one of the 23 affected so that they can make any necessary changes in advance.

[Photo: Shutterstock]