According to a new report from Fortune, although officials at Marriott International promised to pay for new passports for those guests whose passport numbers were compromised in the recently announced Starwood Preferred Guest data breach, the cost of making good on that pledge would almost certainly bankrupt the company.

When Marriott International announced that a massive data breach occurred for Starwood Preferred Guests (SPG), the hotel giant promised that it would take extraordinary steps to help make sure customers didn’t lose money or fall victim to fraud in wake of the personal and financial information of a staggering 500 million guests being exposed by the hack. According to Marriott officials, for more than 327 million of those guests, the compromised information included “some combination of name, mailing address, phone number, email address, passport number, Starwood Preferred Guest (“SPG”) account information, date of birth, gender, arrival and departure information, reservation date, and communication preferences. For some, the information also includes payment card numbers and payment card expiration dates, but the payment card numbers were encrypted using Advanced Encryption Standard encryption (AES-128).”

The company immediately devoted considerable resources to setting up a dedicated help line and providing fraud protection services for affected customers. Perhaps more importantly, officials pledged to devote even more resources to making those customers whole again – including the possibility of paying to replace passports which had been compromised in the hack.

“We deeply regret this incident happened,” Marriott International CEO Arne Sorenson said in an initial statement. “We fell short of what our guests deserve and what we expect of ourselves. We are doing everything we can to support our guests, and using lessons learned to be better moving forward. Today, Marriott is reaffirming our commitment to our guests around the world. We are working hard to ensure our guests have answers to questions about their personal information, with a dedicated website and call center. We will also continue to support the efforts of law enforcement and to work with leading security experts to improve. Finally, we are devoting the resources necessary to phase out Starwood systems and accelerate the ongoing security enhancements to our network.”

Now, however, some analysts say it would be nearly impossible for Marriott International to make good on its promise to replace the passports of SPG hacking victims. Fortune’s Robert Hackett points out that shelling out $110 for each of the 327 million guests whose passport numbers may have been hacked would amount to a payout of billions of dollars – an amount more than the total value of the entire company.

[Photo: Shutterstock]

Marriott is playing ball when it comes to giving customers some big experiences this winter.

Members of Marriott Rewards, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest are all eligible to bid on some exclusive Super Bowl LIII moments. Marriott’s position as a sponsor of Super Bowl LIII places the hotel chain in a prime position to be able to offer exclusive perks. Of course, you’ll have to battle more than 120 million members if you want to win access to some experiences that even money can’t buy.

Are you a football fan? Check out the exclusive moments being offered by Marriott for this year’s big game. Here they are:

• Members can bid loyalty points on the Ultimate Courtyard Super Bowl LIII Sleepover. This event allows one winner and a guest to enjoy an overnight stay inside a custom-built Courtyard guestroom before waking up on game day inside the stadium. Exclusive in-stadium experiences will follow.
• Special Super Bowl Moments packages will deliver prime viewing opportunities from inside Marriott’s own luxury suite. This perk comes with unlimited food and drinks. In addition, lucky members get to enjoy field access and some other fun perks.
• Super Bowl LIII weekend packages are on the table that offer chances to participate in the Pepsi Halftime Show and attend the Super Bowl LIII Opening Night Fueled by Gatorade.

Marriott is also offering access to events that are taking place during the 2019 Pro Bowl weekend. Lucky bidders will be able to participate in a post-practice experience and receive hands-on training from professionals. Access to a 2019 Pro Bowl practice is also on the table. There are also some tickets and access to a pre-game VIP tailgate up for grabs.

You’re going to need some serious points before you can even dream about bidding on exclusive moments from Marriott this winter. Bidding for the Ultimate Courtyard Super Bowl LIII Sleepover is already up over 1.3 million points. Bidding for access to Marriott’s luxury game suite has reached over 1.1 million points.

Bidding for all of the other experiences has reached hundreds of thousands of points. The idea of trying to earn exclusive Super Bowl perks may seem overwhelming for the millions of members who are still trying to figure out where they stand under the newly unified Marriott loyalty program. Members can now officially combine their separate Marriott and Starwood accounts into one account. This will enable them to finally have one account number and see their points balance on one screen after months of being in rewards-program limbo.

[Photo: Shutterstock]

The American Hotel and Lodging Association now offers a checklist to keep hotels and guests safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. When checking in at hotels, the trade group recommends going touchless wherever possible, and mandatory face mask and social distancing policies in common areas.

Checking into your next hotel may look quite different for properties following guidelines from the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA). The trade organization released their “Stay Safe Guest Checklist,” which mirrors many of the safeguards airlines are taking.

Face Masks, Social Distancing, and Contactless Service Among Best Practices

The checklist is part of the AHLA’s “Stay Safe” guidelines, designed to keep both hotel staff and guests safe from the novel Coronavirus outbreak. Much like airline safety policies, hotels are encouraged to minimize physical contact.

In addition to requiring face masks and mandating social distancing in all indoor common spaces, the trade group also suggests making the experience contactless wherever possible. This includes accepting contactless payments, managing booking and check-in online, and offering contactless room service delivery. The guidelines also call for daily room cleaning, but only where necessary.

The goal of the new recommended service levels is to reduce the chances of spreading COVID-19 between guests and hotel staff. By keeping distance and reducing touch points, the hotel industry says they may be able to keep their customers safe, and encourage more travelers to stay in the coming months.

“Utilizing these best practices, including requiring face coverings and practicing social distancing in public spaces, will create an even safer environment for all our guests and employees,” said Chip Rogers, president and CEO of AHLA in a press release. “These preventative measures make it safer and easier for Americans to travel while also supporting hotel and tourism employees.”

Several hotel chains are backing the new guidelines, with plans to implement them at all properties. The supporters include Hilton Hotels, Marriott International, Radisson Hotel Group, IHG and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.

Hotel Industry Changes Mirror Aviation Industry

With the new emphasis on closing social spaces, reducing physical contact and mandatory facial coverings, the hotel industry is mirroring many of the changes already applied by the aviation industry. Every airline requires flyers to wear a face mask while aboard an aircraft, and focusing on providing sealed snack bags and sealed beverages during in-flight service times.

United Airlines is taking things a step further, by maximizing air flow systems during the boarding and disembarking process. According to the Chicago-based airline, the moving air refreshes cabin air every three minutes, and can be cleaner than some restaurants and hospitals.

The hospitality giant launched their second annual “Week of Wonders,” offering limited-time bonuses for those who schedule a stay between October 7 and 14, 2021.

“Wonders” Include Discounts, Points Bonuses and Experiences

Similar to their first weekly promotion unveiled in 2020, this week provides a combination of experiences and discounts for travelers. In addition, Marriott Bonvoy members can take advantage of additional partner offers on travel essentials, including travel and home goods.

Across their network of over 5,000 hotels, Marriott Bonvoy members can access discounts of up to 25 percent on stays booked this week. In addition, Bonvoy credit card holders can also earn 2,000 points after booking and completing an eligible stay at participating hotels by November 21, 2021.

For those who aren’t ready to travel yet, the program is also offering bonuses on purchased points during the week. Members can get a 50 percent bonus on purchases of 2,000 or more points, while elite members can get a 55 percent bonus. In addition, Bonvoy members can also earn a $50 gift card for every $200 spent at Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques in the United States. The shops sell many of the Marriot brands signature items, including Ritz-Carlton bathrobes and the Westin Heavenly Bed. Those in need of new luggage can access 30 percent off select styles from Away.

The biggest ticket items comes from the “Wonders of the Extraordinary” collection, featuring a number of exclusive offers. Members can bid on one of several packages, including around of golf with British Open champion Collin Morikawa at TPC Las Vegas, an ultimate weekend with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team in Abu Dhabi, or a private in-suite dining experience at the JW Marriott Venice Resort and Spa.

To explore all the offers and see terms and conditions, visit the Marriott website.

Offers Comes as Hotels Extend Status for 2022

Marriott’s week-long promotion comes as some hotel chains are extending status for elite members, as travelers delay trips due to the pandemic. Hilton Honors announced they will extend status for the second consecutive year, giving elites more time to retain their membership level.

EV tracking website Electrek reports LNG Electric is rolling out a plan to install the charging stations at popular hotel brands by 2028 at the latest.

Charging Stations to be Introduced in Midwest and Florida

The company is working with digital infrastructure partner MD7 to identify not only how many chargers should be installed, but where they would be the most efficient for travelers across the United States. LNG is planning to install a combination of Level 2, Level 3, and DC fast charging stations at many popular hotel brands, including Marriott and Hilton.

The first chargers in the network will be installed at hotels in the Midwest, including Illinois and Ohio. Florida will also see some chargers installed at hotel properties. From there, the company’s goal is to place charging stations at enough hotels to represent up to 15% of the U.S. hospitality market.

There’s no word if travelers will earn additional loyalty rewards for charging their EVs at one of the hotels in LNG’s charging network.

EV Charging Stations Among New Amenities to Bring Back Travelers

The new network of electric vehicle charging stations are just another new feature hotels are rolling out to attract travelers back to their properties. While some are going all-out on their room service options, others are partnering with travel providers to keep more flyers in their network.

Get the best insider information on thousands of hotels worldwide from other FlyerTalkers with our Expert Hotel Reviews. 

The Wall Street Journal reports a group of guests are taking Marriott International to court over the surcharge, claiming that adding the fee is against California consumer protection laws.

Consumers Allege Marriott Hotels Earn $3.6 Million from Surcharge

The surcharge comes from a law passed by the Los Angeles City Council in 2022, which mandates certain protections for hotel workers. Among them are higher wages for workers at hotels with 45 rooms or more who clean beyond a certain amount of the hotel.

In turn, the plaintiffs allege L.A.-area Marriott Hotels are charging between $10 and $14 per night as a “hotel work protection ordinance cost” fee, specifically around Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The group claims that Marriott could make as much as $3.6 million annually on the fee, which does not necessarily go towards the workers it claims to protect.

“The cost for Marriott to comply with the ordinance at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott is far less than $3,600,000 annually,” the group argues in the lawsuit. “Instead, the HWPO Fee is nothing more than a ‘junk fee’ that directly benefits Marriott at the expense of guests at Marriott’s hotels.”

The lawsuit argues that the fees give the Marriott hotels an unfair advantage over the competition by advertising lower prices, while charging more at checkout. The hotel company denies the allegations, saying that all fees are presented upfront at time of booking. It is unclear how much in damages the lawsuit is seeking.

The court case is still open, and no decision has been made for either party.

Case Comes as “Junk Fees” Under Scrutiny

The lawsuit comes as federal regulators are looking into so-called “junk fees” at hotels and other hospitality businesses. In 2022, the Federal Trade Commission announced a new potential rule which would address “unfair or deceptive fees.”

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