Any marketer will attest that success rests in consistently
giving customers what they want. Following this philosophy for the past
25 years has enabled Marriott International's Courtyard by Marriott
power brand to reach its 800th-hotel milestone, becoming the world's 12th largest hotel brand with locations in 28 countries.
Courtyard has just celebrated the Grand Opening of its 800th property, the 364-room Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai Xujiahui,
with a colourful, festive ceremony featuring a Dragon Dance,
contemporary and traditional Chinese music and scores of local
officials and performers. It is the seventh Courtyard hotel in China
with two additional Courtyard properties under construction.
From
the start, our innovative Courtyard brand revolutionised the business
travel experience," said Brian King, vice president, global brand
manager, Courtyard by Marriott, "and has prided itself as a brand that
listens to what business travellers want from a hotel-more control and
choice with services and amenities that create a healthy balance
between working and relaxing."
According to Geoff Garside,
Marriott International's executive vice president for Asia-Pacific, the
company expects to open more than 200 additional Courtyard hotels
worldwide over the next three years. "This year alone, 60 Courtyard
properties will join our portfolio including five in India and our
eighth Courtyard in China which will be located in Hangzhou."
Key
to all Courtyard hotels globally are its tastefully appointed guest
rooms which tend to be larger than similar accommodations offered by
other hotels in its category. Accommodations offer plush bed and bath
linens; distinctly defined rest, work, relaxation and grooming areas; a
large work desk with bright lighting and ergonomic chair; flat screen
television; high-speed internet and voice mail access; safes; iron and
ironing board and a coffee/tea maker.
Courtyard lobbies are
contemporary, open and stylish, providing access, control and
consistency. Colourful, bright and welcoming spaces-such as an area
where guests can check e-mail, meet informally with colleagues or
simply relax-allow for multipurpose use throughout the day. Meeting
rooms, swimming pools, whirlpools and exercise rooms are available at
most locations.
Recognising that guests' needs vary by country,
however, Courtyard has redefined the upper moderate lodging tier by
building on its core heritage-understanding the needs of business
travellers-and adapting this understanding to regional customs and
lifestyles while consistently delivering hallmark service and
customised services.
The Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai
Xujiahui reflects the heightened expectations of Asian business
travellers. Its 364 guest rooms and suites are located on 23 floors and
offer magnificent views of the city. Included are 105 executive rooms
and suites and an executive level that provides an array of
complimentary amenities such as continental breakfast and all-day
refreshments, cocktails and snacks in the early evening, a computer
work station with internet access and daily two-hour use of the
executive floor meeting room.
For dining, the Courtyard by
Marriott Shanghai Xujiahui features Courtyard's vibrant, new Asian
all-day restaurant concept, MoMo Café, which combines local cuisine
with western favorites. For those in a hurry, the hotel offers
MoMo-to-Go, an all-day convenience stand that is fully stocked with
pastries, sandwiches and beverages.
Recreational amenities
include a fitness centre equipped with high-tech cardiovascular
work-out equipment and an indoor swimming pool.
For small
conferences and social events, the Courtyard by Marriott Shanghai
Xujiahui offers 8,396 square feet of meeting space, including 13
meeting rooms with the largest accommodating up to 120 people.
Among
new geographic locations that Courtyard by Marriott will call home over
the next 36 months are Ecuador, Suriname, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sweden,
Turkey, Barbados, Scotland, Norway, Switzerland, the Philippines and
Honduras.
The first Courtyard by Marriott hotel opened in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, in 1983.
For further information please contact Laura Speirs – 8th Day Communications,
email: laura@8thday.com.au or M: 0439 881 148
About Marriott International, Inc
Marriott
International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) is a leading lodging company with more
than 3,100 lodging properties in 66 countries and territories.
Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the
Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn,
Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and
Bulgari brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts
under the Marriott Vacation Club, Horizons by Marriott Vacation
Club, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Grand Residences by Marriott brands;
operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate
housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates
conference centers. The company is headquartered in Bethesda,
Maryland, USA and had approximately 146,000 employees at 2008
year-end. It is recognized by BusinessWeek as one of the 100 best
global brands, by FORTUNE® as one of the best companies to work for,
and by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as Partner of the
Year since 2004. In fiscal year 2008, Marriott International reported
sales from continuing operations of nearly $13 billion. For more
information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com.
