Renaissance Hotels Kicks Off a Summer of Discovery with Second Annual Global Day of Discovery

The Creative Coalition and CeeLo Green Join with Renaissance Hotels to Inspire Discovery All Season Long

Renaissance Hotels (www.renhotels.com/discovery),  the hotel brand designed to help guests Live Life to Discover^SM, will host its second annual Global Day of Discovery on June 19th at more than 100 hotels around the world. On this day, these Renaissance hotels will celebrate by offering both guests and locals the opportunity to get out and discover something new by hosting exclusive RLife LIVE events as well as unique local excursions designed by hotel NAVIGATORS to showcase the personality of each destination. 

 

The Global Day of Discovery celebration officially kicks off Renaissance Hotels’ Summer of Discovery, a summer-long calendar of RLife® LIVE events at Renaissance locations around the world designed to help travelers discover the best of the season.  RLife LIVE is Renaissance Hotels’ industry-acclaimed entertainment program that features live music, art exhibits, culinary programming and more in its hotels around the world.

“We make a promise to our hotel guests that every time they step into a Renaissance Hotel they are inspired to discover and experience something new and meaningful,” said Toni Stoeckl, vice president for Renaissance Hotels. “Celebrating Day of Discovery is just one way we are helping guests to Live Life to Discover this season by encouraging both travelers and locals to make the most of their time by visiting a new local art gallery or listening to an emerging musician perform in one of our hotel lobbies.”

A sampling of events taking place on June 19th include:

• Live performance and meet and greet with famed country music duo Montgomery Gentry at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel 
• World famous DJ Chuckie, will launch the first solar DJ booth and staging worldwide at the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino
• Austrian Funk band Hot Pants Road Club will perform at the Imperial Riding School Renaissance Vienna Hotel
• Discover Pet Adopt-a-thon event in partnership with the North Shore Animal League at the Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel

Also this year, CeeLo Green, Chief Creative Officer for Primary Wave Music, has teamed up with Renaissance Hotels for the Summer of Discovery as a special guest curator, designing exclusive RLife LIVE musical performances of emerging artists from the Primary Wave Music roster in select cities around the country.  Here is what he’s designed for the Global Day of Discovery on June 19th:

• Juliet Simms, runner-up from the Voice at Renaissance Los Angeles Airport Hotel
• V the Artist at the Renaissance Dallas Hotel
• Bronze Radio Return at the Renaissance Toronto Downtown
• Singer/Songwriters Barrett & Jenn Bostic performing live at the Renaissance Long Beach Hotel

To further drive home its mission to be the hotel brand that helps guests to Live Life to Discover, Renaissance Hotels has also partnered with The Creative Coalition, the premier nonprofit social and public advocacy organization of the arts and entertainment community, to encourage travelers to discover public art and cultural offerings this summer. The Creative Coalition’s supporters, including Tracy Morgan (“30 Rock”), Patricia Arquette (“Medium”), Kevin McHale (“Glee”), Josh Radnor (“How I Met Your Mother”) and Leslie David Baker (“The Office”), have come together to create a public service announcement that encourages  today’s modern travelers to discover art in the most uncommon places. Please visit www.renhotels.com/discovery to view.

For a full calendar of events happening throughout the summer, visit www.renhotels.com and/or visit us at Facebook.com/RenHotels and on Twitter @RenHotels. 

Additional social media elements designed to engage their guests and unexpected surprises will take place throughout the summer as part of the Summer of Discovery.  Visit www.renhotels.com for more information.

ABOUT RENAISSANCE
Renaissance Hotels represents a diverse collection of more than 155 hotels in 35 countries worldwide. Each property is unique, offering passionate travelers a one-of-kind experience and memories they will be sure to take with them long after they depart. Within every hotel, guests are greeted by an exceptional array of amenities and an inspiring world of local discoveries. For travelers looking to experience something new, innovative and locally driven programs including the industry leading entertainment platform RLife LIVE as well as R Navigator, ensure that every trip is transformed into an eye-opening, unforgettable journey. Renaissance Hotels. Live Life To Discover. To discover more visit www.renhotels.com.

Friend us on Facebook www.facebook.com/RenHotels

Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/RenHotels

ABOUT THE CREATIVE COALITION
The Creative Coalition (www.TheCreativeCoalition.org) is the premier nonprofit, nonpartisan social and public advocacy organization of the arts and entertainment community. Founded in 1989 by prominent members of the creative community, The Creative Coalition is dedicated to educating, mobilizing, and activating its members on issues of public importance.

Connect with catherine.leitner@marriott.com and laurenb@alisonbrodpr.com

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Marriott Hotels Boldly Envisions the Future of Travel

Launches “Travel Brilliantly” Campaign, Engaging Next Generation Guests 

Reflecting the transformative change happening at its properties, the iconic Marriott Hotels, the signature brand of Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR), today launched a new multi-year global marketing campaign. Called “Travel Brilliantly,” it is a bold move amplifying the brand’s dedication to leading the future of travel. The dynamic campaign reflects the lifestyle of the next generation of travelers, who seamlessly blend work and play in a mobile and global world. The campaign includes TV, digital and mobile advertising, a new brand look and logo, and enhanced social media platforms. In addition, Marriott is launching a new website – www.travelbrilliantly.com –revealing innovations under development, as well as a co-creation platform to solicit user-generated ideas.

At its core, the campaign disrupts the traditional industry idea that a hotel is bound by its four walls. Rather, the campaign shifts the focus, celebrating how the global travel experience opens minds and is inspirational. As the advertising proclaims, “This is not a hotel.  It’s an idea that travel should be brilliant… It’s not only about where you’re staying. It’s about where you’re going.” From culinary to design to technology, the new campaign draws on the personal passion points and values of the next generation guest, to create a visual that is emblematic of the new Marriott experience.

“The iconic Marriott Hotels brand is transforming itself and reasserting its position as an innovation leader,” said Mara Hannula, vice president of global marketing, Marriott Hotels. “Therefore, the campaign had to be bold in not only staking our claim, but also engaging the next generation of travelers to join us in co-creating the future of travel.“

To signal change, Marriott created a new brand logo, keeping its iconic “M,” while modernizing its overall appeal. Grey NY, one of the world’s leading advertising and communications agencies developed the integrated campaign and the new brand voice.  

“The ‘Travel Brilliantly’ campaign re-establishes Marriott’s role as a pioneer in the travel industry,” says Jan Egan, Executive Creative Director, Grey New York. “Beyond creating new industry advancements, Marriott is shifting the process of how these innovations are ideated.  By fostering dialogue with guests and engaging the modern traveler to co-create the travel experience through TravelBrilliantly.com, Marriott will define the future of travel.”

The new website, www.travelbrilliantly.com will be a platform for portraying Marriott’s past and future innovations and soliciting similar, future-forward ideas from influencers, experts and traveling consumer enthusiasts. Visitors to the website are invited to share their groundbreaking ideas to improve the modern travel experience across design, culinary, wellness and technology. Ideas submitted through the end of September will be entered into a Co-Creation contest, where three judges, Shira Lazar, host of “What’s Trending,” Marc Kushner, Co-Founder of Architizer and Matthew Von Ertfelda, Vice President of Innovation at Marriott will identify top ideas that could truly change the future of travel. Fifteen first prize winners will be chosen and the judges will choose the creator of the best overall idea, who will have the opportunity to travel with and design future innovations alongside Marriott experts, impacting travel for the next generation.

Marriott’s new campaign will run online in prominent news and lifestyle outlets, such as Fast Company, Mashable and Wired, and in key mobile placements beginning in June. Television spots featuring ads from the campaign will begin in September. On property elements representing 30 touch points, including key cards, flags, “do not – disturb” hangers, in-room directories will embrace the brand’s new visual look. These will feature a series of topographical maps and travel-inspired patterns, inviting travelers begin their journeys with and then beyond the hotel.  

As a part of Marriott Hotel’s transformation, the iconic brand has been innovating throughout its hotels globally.  Re-designed lobbies and public spaces known as Greatrooms are being rapidly deployed for the next generation of travelers who blend work and play, demand style and substance, and require technology. As the industry leader in hosting meetings, Marriott is introducing new concepts designed for the new mobile worker including Workspring at Marriott, Red Coat Direct and Workspace on Demand.

About Marriott Hotels

With 500 hotels and resorts in nearly 60 countries around the world, Marriott Hotels is evolving travel through every aspect of the guest’s stay, enabling the next generation to Travel Brilliantly. Boldly transforming itself for mobile and global travelers who blend work and play, Marriott leads the industry with innovations, including the Greatroom, Future of Meetings and Mobile Guest Services that elevates style & design and technology. All Marriott hotels participate in the award winning Marriott Rewards frequent travel program that allows members to earn hotel points or airline miles for every dollar spent during each stay. For more information, visit www.MarriottHotels.com.

To join the ongoing Marriott conversation, like us on Facebook (Facebook.com/Marriott) and follow us on Twitter (Twitter.com/Marriott, @Marriott).

Visit Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) for company information. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.

Connect with john.wolf@marriott.com

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Designs on the Future – Big Ideas Become Reality at Marriott Hotels' New “Underground” Innovation Lab

Marriott Hotels, the flagship brand of Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR), today announced the opening of a new 10,000 square foot Innovation Lab located beneath the company’s headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland. The Innovation Lab offers rapid prototyping with instant feedback capabilities, bird’s eye views from Internet-enabled cameras, and multiple avenues for customer participation.

Located two stories below headquarters, the lab -- also dubbed “The Underground” -- is dedicated to promoting innovation and collaboration. Like a blank canvas, the floor-to-ceiling white space offers a clean slate for anyone – whether architect, designer, employee or customer – to manipulate and make his mark. This space showcases the brand’s commitment to the next generation of travelers, who seamlessly blend work and play, with a focus on changing style, technology and service.

“When we decided to transform this expansive unused space hidden beneath headquarters, we blasted through walls and left the old ideas of a ‘design space’ behind. We tapped into the best technology to create an ever-changing lab for innovation, experiencing ideas, exploring concepts, and receiving instant feedback from guests,” said Paul Cahill, senior vice president, brand management for Marriott Hotels. “The design concepts conceived and perfected will make the future of travel a reality, sooner.”

Because the parts of the Innovation Lab are mobile, the Marriott design team can take every detail into consideration from the positioning of the bed in the room to the layout of the bathroom. Visitors to the space will become a part of the design and testing process for guestrooms, great room lobbies, meetings spaces, and even food & beverage concepts, innovations that will now be implemented more quickly in Marriott properties around the world.

Innovate with Marriott Hotels
Upon entry to the Innovation Lab, guests will traverse a gallery filled with projected images on walls awash in rich, saturated colors and lighting effects courtesy of Philip’s ColorBlast Powercore high-performance LED lighting system, where featured presentations set the scene for Marriott’s newest designs.

Opening into the floor-to-ceiling, white, 10,000 square foot, main innovation room, guests will find an ‘open contribution’ wall where they can impact the brand through new ideas and design likes and dislikes. An additional, “war room” offers functional space for private group meetings up to 40 people.

“This isn’t a space where sport coats are required or guests stand to the side while we speak. It is interactive and participatory,” said Karim Khalifa, senior vice president, architecture & construction, Marriott. “Marriott is dedicated to transforming the brand to make it relevant for a next generation of travelers – and we want these travelers to be a part of our transformative journey.”

Marriott Hotels is transforming the guest experience, designing lobbies and public spaces for the next generation of travelers who blend work and play, demand style and substance, and require technology. As the industry leader in hosting meetings, Marriott is introducing new concepts designed for the new mobile worker.

Workspace On Demand powered by Liquidspace, an application to book meetings on demand, is further differentiating the customer experience at Marriott Hotels by allowing guests to book both free and paid spaces as easily as they book a guest room. Workspring at Marriott at the Redmond Marriott Town Center, the industry’s first purpose-built suite of integrated spaces and common areas designed for small meetings, takes a holistic approach, bringing together seamlessly integrated service, technology and contemporary design. It was created in partnership with Steelcase to support collaborative work, inspiring creativity and innovation.

In addition to the Marriott Hotels brand, the Innovation Lab will also be deployed for Marriott International’s entire portfolio of brands.

About Marriott Hotels
Marriott Hotels continues to inspire and provide a balanced life on the road for discerning and high-achieving business and leisure travelers, offering warm, professional service; sophisticated yet functional guest room design; lobby spaces that facilitate working, dining and socializing; restaurants and bars serving international cuisine prepared simply and from the freshest ingredients; meeting and event spaces and services that are gold standard; and expansive, 24-hour fitness facilities. All Marriott hotels participate in the award winning Marriott Rewards frequent travel program that allows members to earn hotel points or airline miles for every dollar spent during each stay. For more information, visit www.MarriottHotels.com.

Connect with john.wolf@marriott.com

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Imagining the Future of Meetings

Marriott Hotels Introduces Transformational App Making For More Dynamic Meetings.

Bethesda, Md., -- Inspired by the power of technology and ways to transform meetings for the people attending, Marriott Hotels, the signature brand of Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) is introducing Red Coat Direct.  [See video below.] With this first of its kind app, meeting organizers can now adjust and edit their meeting requests and preferences with a touch of a button and without ever leaving the meeting room. Red Coat Direct is the first branded hotel app to grant any meeting wish (within reason) from room temperature adjustments, to coffee refills or having lunch served earlier with an additional vegetarian dish. Rolling out at 350 Marriott Hotel properties in the US beginning in May, the Red Coat Direct app will be expanded to the brand’s entire global portfolio of 500 hotels by the end of 2014.

“The way people work is more mobile and global, but until now, organizing meetings has been stuck in the past. We are rethinking all aspects of meetings from the physical space to the experience for both attendees and planners, and looking for ways to enable and inspire people to do their best work,” said Peggy Roe, vice president, global operations services for Marriott Hotels. “Red Coat Direct’s technology allows planners to continually adjust requests without missing a minute of their meeting or keeping other professionals waiting.”

The app is personalized to the each organizer’s specific meeting. Requests can be made up to three days before the meeting and then throughout the meeting. Once the request is made, it is routed to the event manager and the department that can fulfill the request. The app is available for all internet-enabled devices including iPhone, iPad, Android phones, Kindle Fire and laptops and will be available in 19 languages by 2014’s global roll-out.

Marriott Hotels has been “re-imagining” the guest experience, transforming lobbies and public spaces by designing them for the next generation of travelers who blend work and play, demand style and substance, and require technology. As the industry leader in hosting meetings, Marriott is introducing new concepts designed for the new mobile worker.

Workspace On Demand powered by Liquidspace, an application to book meetings on demand, is further differentiating the customer experience at Marriott Hotels by allowing guests to book both free and paid spaces as easily as they book a guest room. Workspring at Marriott at the Redmond Marriott Town Center, the industry’s first purpose-built suite of integrated spaces and common areas designed for small meetings, takes a holistic approach, bringing together seamlessly integrated service, technology and contemporary design. It was created in partnership with Steelcase to support collaborative work, inspiring creativity and innovation.

About Marriott Hotels
Marriott Hotels continues to inspire and provide a balanced life on the road for discerning and high-achieving business and leisure travelers, offering warm, professional service; sophisticated yet functional guest room design; lobby spaces that facilitate working, dining and socializing; restaurants and bars serving international cuisine prepared simply and from the freshest ingredients; meeting and event spaces and services that are gold standard; and expansive, 24-hour fitness facilities. All Marriott Hotels participate in the award winning Marriott Rewards guest loyalty program that allows members to earn hotel points or airline miles for every dollar spent during stays. Join us on Marriott Hotels rapidly growing Facebook community (www.facebook.com/marriott) and follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/marriott). For more information, visit www.MarriottHotels.com.

Connect with laurie.goldstein@marriott.com

 

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The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company Sets the Digital Bar for Social Media Engagement at Arabian Travel Market 2013

CSMO bringing social media team members to drive awareness of the brand’s social presence.

Dubai, UAE – The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC is leading the way in consumer engagement in the digital sphere at this year’s ATM, with a fully-integrated social media campaign that will offer visitors a unique interactive experience. The move is in line with The Ritz-Carlton commitment to deepen connections with existing and prospective guests in an environment in which they spend increasing amounts of time.

As part of the luxury hotel company’s social media outreach during the Middle East’s largest travel trade show, The Ritz-Carlton has members of their social media engagement team present on their stand at ATM.  Through the @RitzCarlton twitter handle, the team will provide live content and updates from the event. With a sizeable number of The Ritz-Carlton Twitter followers comprising of trade partners, customers and the media, it is a perfect platform to initiate and build brand conversation relevant to the fair.
 
The introduction of a dedicated ‘Tweet Bar’ on The Ritz-Carlton stand HC5240 located in the Arena Hall, will give the brand’s global Twitter following access to news from the event as it unfolds in Dubai, including highlights from exclusive talks and seminars. In addition, visitors checking in at ATM on Foursquare will receive tips on the best things to see and do in Dubai, as recommended by The Ritz-Carlton concierges from both hotels in the city. The Ritz-Carlton also uses Foursquare and The Ritz-Carlton Mobile App to tailor local content and provide engaging information relevant to their guests. This will be brought to life at ATM where a series of QR codes can be used to download property insights, including recipes from chefs and guided tours of hotels.

“Our social media interactions at Arabian Travel Market are a natural extension of our ‘Let Us Stay With You’ brand philosophy. We want to enrich the experience at the show for visitors, in addition to being a great luxury travel information resource for our Twitter followers by providing news as it is happening from the show,” said Chris Gabaldon, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. “Each of The Ritz-Carlton social media channels grow in importance to us year-over-year as our guests live more and more of their lives in the digital space. Use of Facebook alone already stands at 40% of time spent online in the UAE, 30% in Kuwait and 21% in Saudi Arabia making Facebook an increasingly important channel for us to converse with our Middle East guests.”

The Ritz-Carlton has a proven track record of using social networking platforms to build and enhance the brand and bring people together in the same physical space or event. It successfully used Twitter to underscore its central role at global events such as Toronto International Film Festival and IMEX America, whilst broadcasting and conversing about the brand’s messages on a large scale and also drawing foot traffic to physical spaces by engaging with other attendees.

The effectiveness of The Ritz-Carlton social media direction and content has led to significant year-on-year increases across all leading platforms, including Facebook which has jumped 118 percent to more than one million fans across  the company’s brand page and 48 hotel Facebook pages. In addition, the brand Facebook Page’s year-over-year growth in “People Talking About This” went up 746%.

“The Ritz-Carlton philosophy is built around the concept of providing unique experiences for our guests that will leave indelible memories they take away from every visit to one of our hotels.  With the continued growth and influence of social media – on both a local and global scale – we are seeing this amplified online more than ever before,” continued Gabaldon.

“It is therefore essential for us to remain relevant to the consumer and be strategic and sensitive about the ways in which we engage in the space. The Ritz-Carlton brand carries expectations of excellence, and I can proudly say that while each of our social channels perform in different ways, they all convey a truth and authenticity that can only be conveyed by us. We reap great benefit from being a part of the online conversation and learn much by paying attention to guest feedback. The next part of our continued strategy focuses on developing additional global social media assets and online engagement channels to reach a broader audience of geographies and demographics, incorporate more video, and play host to user generated content for our guests who wish to share their Ritz-Carlton experiences in the digital space.”

To follow news from The Ritz-Carlton stand during Arabian Travel Market, follow the tweets from @RitzCarlton or the hashtag #ATMDubai.

About The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C.
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. of Chevy Chase, Md., currently operates 82 hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean. More than 30 hotel and residential projects are under development around the globe. The Ritz-Carlton is the only service company to have twice earned the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award which recognizes outstanding customer service. For more information, or reservations, contact a travel professional, call toll free in the U.S. 1-800-241-3333, or visit the company website at www.ritzcarlton.com. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR)

Connect with sarah.walkerkerr@ritzcarlton.com

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Marriott International Launches First-Of-Its-Kind Careers App

App Opens Doors to Marriott Careers in Europe with Real Stories and Opportunities.

London – Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) is taking its recruitment digital in Europe with a newly launched careers App that is the first of its kind in the hospitality industry.  Available in English, French, German and Russian, the new innovative App has been developed in tandem with Evviva Brands following extensive market research among young people – a target demographic for the new App.

“We are excited for Marriott to be leading the way with the development of this new App.  The youth unemployment figure is rising steadily in much of Europe, but there continues to be great opportunity within the hospitality industry and within Marriott, so it is important that we engage the next generation of job seekers through a variety of tools and mediums that are relevant and appealing to them,” said Bridgett Price, Chief Human Resources Officer for Marriott International in Europe.

The App engages users with personal and authentic career stories, which is a key learning incorporated in to the creation of the app taken from the extensive market and focus group research.  “Young people want to hear about real people, what they do, and how they got there – stories of successful careers with Marriott and how they were built,” said Cate Newsom, Head of Insight for Evviva. The App also presents Marriott’s many brands together as a family to increase awareness of the many diverse opportunities within the company.

Though the App is not designed to replace traditional face-to-face recruitment, it will enable Marriott to reach a technologically savvy and ever increasing mobile audience, thus enhancing and optimising the recruitment process.  Importantly it will also showcase the range of roles available within Marriott - from General Manager to Housekeeping Supervisor, and Front Office Supervisor to Sales Director - to excite users about the opportunities within the company as it continues to expand and open new hotels across Europe as part of its goal to double its portfolio in Europe from 40,000 rooms to 80,000 rooms by 2015.

Marriott is consistently recognised as a top employer, recently taking 7th place in the Sunday Times’ “25 Best Big Companies to Work For” list 2013 and named in FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list for the 16th year in a row.

The “Marriott Jobs in Europe” App is available NOW for download by iPad users, with the iPhone version coming soon.  Download the App for free today onto your iPad by clicking the App Store logo below.

 



Connect with us:

    
 
Visit Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) for company information. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.  

Evviva Brands is an international team of employee engagement, brand and communications specialists - helping major companies build their reputations in order to attract and retain good people. Please visit www.evvivabrands.com for more information.

Connect with helen.taylor@marriott.com

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Renaissance Dallas Hotel Breaks Ground on State-Of-The-Art Meeting Facility

Event Space Projected to Add New Jobs and Produce Nearly $10 Million in Revenue in Year One.
 
DALLAS, TX – MARCH 8, 2013 – A groundbreaking ceremony was held yesterday at the Renaissance Dallas Hotel for a new 30,000-square-foot meeting facility.  The 14-month, multi-million dollar construction project will create jobs for nearly 200 workers and is scheduled for completion in June of 2014. Renaissance Hotels is a lifestyle brand within the Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) global portfolio of 18 brands.
 
Keynote speakers at the event were (pictured from left to right) John Marriott, president and chief executive officer of JWM Family Enterprises, L.P.; Mayor Pro Tem Pauline Medrano; and Cynthia D’Aoust, COO and interim CEO of Meeting Professionals International, and Mark Woelffer, General Manager. 
 
The new facility will give the hotel a total of 50,000 square feet of meeting and event space.  The centerpiece of the new space will be a 16,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom (able to accommodate up to 1,500 people for a seated dinner) with plentiful natural light throughout.  Directly above the new ballroom will be the City View Ballroom and City View Rooftop Terrace including an additional 10,900 square feet of indoor and outdoor space for truly unique large-scale events.  The City View Ballroom will offer floor-to-ceiling windows and breathtaking views of the Dallas skyline.  The architect and contractor for this project is HC Beck.
 
The new structure is designed to qualify for the LEED Standard Silver status rating, signaling the hotel’s focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility throughout the renovation process. Key design elements include contemporary décor, vaulted ceilings, and state-of-the-art sound and lighting. The facility will offer a private entrance with valet parking options and motor coach access, as well as catering services focused on modern-American cuisine with a local twist.  The hotel’s current meeting and event space will remain open throughout the expansion.
 
Mark Woelffer, general manager of the hotel, noted that the new facility gives the hotel the ability to house larger conferences and social galas which they were previously unable to accommodate due to lack of space.  It is projected to produce approximately $10 million in revenue in its first year of operation, translating to nearly $500,000 in additional tax income for the city — and will create many new jobs at the property.

The Renaissance Dallas Hotel offers luxurious accommodations and remarkable architecture in an excellent location near the American Airlines Center, Dallas Convention Center, and Love Field Airport.  Consistently ranked among the top hotels in the city, the property includes 514 guest rooms and suites, Celebrity Chef Dean Max’s celebrated Asador Restaurant, rooftop pool, and fitness center.  Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) currently offers a portfolio of nearly 90 hotels across nine lodging brands in the DFW Metroplex.
 
Renaissance Hotels, which was acquired by Marriott International in 1997, has quickly become one of the most popular brands within the company's portfolio. In 2008, the brand began an intense journey to firmly establish itself in the lifestyle hospitality space and differentiate itself from other Marriott International brands by introducing game changing programs including the Navigator program and RLife LIVE, one of the industry's most well recognized entertainment platforms showcasing emerging musical artists through live performances in Renaissance Hotels around the world. A natural continuation of the brand's extraordinary journey, the recently launched Live Life to Discover campaign represents the culmination of the global repositioning of the brand.                                      
 
ABOUT RENAISSANCE
Renaissance Hotels represents a diverse collection of 155 hotels in 35 countries worldwide. Each property is unique, offering passionate travelers a one-of-kind experience and memories they will be sure to take with them long after they depart. Within every hotel, guests are greeted by an exceptional array of amenities and an inspiring world of local discoveries. For travelers looking to experience something new, innovative and locally driven programs including the industry leading entertainment platform RLife LIVE as well R Navigator, ensure that every trip is transformed into an eye-opening, unforgettable journey. Renaissance Hotels. Live Life To Discover. To discover more visit www.renhotels.com.  Friend us on Facebook www.facebook.com/RenaissanceHotels. Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/RenHotels.
 
Note to Editors:  A video on this project can be accessed here.  High-res images are also available upon request.

Connect with Catherine.Leitner@marriott.com and Jane@JCCommunicationsllc.com 

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Getting in the Mood - Marriott Hotels & Resorts Mood Reader Ranks as One of Spotify’s Most Popular Brand Campaigns

The Marriott Mood Reader, a new Spotify content experience from Marriott Hotels & Resorts, has become one of the most successful campaigns in the history of Spotify.  The Marriott Mood Reader matches music to the listener’s mood, allows users to create mood-based playlists and offers them the chance to win fun prizes.  Users created over 30,000 playlists in the first month and the initial engagement rate was an impressive 70%. 

“Spotify offers us an excellent opportunity to create meaningful connections by providing personalized experiences with the growing number of younger travelers staying in our hotels, who are more global and mobile,” said Paul Cahill, senior vice president, brand management for Marriott Hotels & Resorts. “Our app on Spotify not only finds the right music to match your mood and to entertain you, but also introduces people to new music they can share with their friends. We are overwhelmed by the apps success.” 

“Our goal is to partner with brands that understand the power of music to connect their messages to our millions of users,” said Erin Clift, Vice President, Global Marketing & Partnerships.  “Marriott is a great example of a brand that was able to create an amazing user experience that also spoke directly to their brand proposition.”

Marriott Hotels & Resorts and Spotify will continue to build out content experiences that leverage music in 2013. 

About Marriott Hotels & Resorts
Marriott Hotels & Resorts continues to inspire and provide a balanced life on the road for discerning and high-achieving business and leisure travelers, offering warm, professional service; sophisticated yet functional guest room design; lobby spaces that facilitate working, dining and socializing; restaurants and bars serving international cuisine prepared simply and from the freshest ingredients; meeting and event spaces and services that are gold standard; and expansive, 24-hour fitness facilities. All Marriott hotels participate in the award winning Marriott Rewards guest loyalty program that allows members to earn hotel points or airline miles for every dollar spent during stays. Join us on Marriott Hotels & Resorts rapidly growing Facebook community (www.facebook.com/marriott) and follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/marriott).  For more information, visit www.MarriottHotels.com.

About Spotify
Spotify is an award-winning digital music service that gives you on-demand access to over 20 million tracks*.  Our dream is to make all the world’s music available instantly to everyone, wherever and whenever they want it.  Spotify makes it easier than ever to discover, manage and share music with your friends, while making sure that artists get a fair deal.

Spotify is available in 17 countries: USA, UK, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Belgium, The Netherlands, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Luxembourg with more than 20 million active users, and over 5 million paying subscribers.

www.spotify.com

* Number of tracks licensed globally. Catalogue size varies per market.

Connect with laurie.goldstein@marriott.com

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Marriott is “Where, I Belong”

New Technologies to Make the Job Search Easier.

Marriott International is making it easier for job seekers to find employment at its thousands of hotels and businesses worldwide. Today, Marriott launched the new “Marriott, Where I Belong” campaign. The campaign features real associates and highlights what it feels like to work for a company that is consistently recognized as the employer of choice around the globe.  
Job seekers can access jobs and more information about the company through Marriott’s first ever mobile careers site or the redesigned and reimagined “Marriott, Where I Belong” desktop careers site.

“We recognize that being a job seeker is not always easy. Our goal is to make the job search process highly accessible and more intuitive for those who want to consider Marriott and its 18 brands as a potential employer,” says David Rodriguez, Marriott's global Chief Human Resources Officer. “We will continue to introduce new, innovative solutions for job seekers across the world in the next few months all the while showcasing our culture and the many reasons why Marriott is consistently recognized as one of the world's best places to work and most highly preferred employers.”

Unveiled to the public on December 13, 2012, these new tools make the job search process easier and more intuitive while reflecting the new campaign which celebrates Marriott’s culture of inclusion and being family-like.

Job seekers are invited to experience the company’s unique culture by connecting and conversing through the Marriott Jobs and Careers Facebook and Weibo presences. The company is inviting current, former and prospective employees to participate in the campaign by browsing “Marriott, where I belong” photo galleries and uploading their own photo.

Marriott’s new mobile technology for job seekers can be accessed at m.jobs.marriott.com and the new desktop careers site is available at www.marriott.com/careers.

Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) is a leading lodging company based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA with more than 3,700 properties in 74 countries and territories and reported revenues of over $12 billion in fiscal year 2011.  The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 18 brands. There are approximately 300,000 associates at headquarters, managed and franchised properties.  Marriott is consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business operations, which it conducts based on five core values: put people first, pursue excellence, embrace change, act with integrity, and serve our world. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com. 

Connect with jessica.lee@marriott.com

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Marriott Hotels & Resorts and WIRED Hosted an Evening of Design & Eclectic Art

WIRED's Chris Anderson Captivated Guests at San Francisco Marriott Union Square. Select Motion Work from Critically Acclaimed Photographer Artist Todd McLellan and Brick Art from artist Nathan Sawaya were also on Display.

Marriott Hotels & Resorts, the signature brand of Marriott International, and WIRED, hosted Design Beats: Maker earlier tonight Thursday, November 15, at San Francisco Marriott Union Square.  
 
Marriott Hotels & Resorts and WIRED curated a unique evening that focus on the importance and future of design and art. WIRED Editor-in-Chief Chris Anderson, bestselling author of The Long Tail and Free, spoke about the Industrial Revolution past and present and the emergence of new forms of art, manufacturing, and industrial design. In addition, guests were treated to an art exhibit that featured the work of critically acclaimed photographer and artist Todd McLellan and brick art sculptures from Nathan Sawaya. Adding to the evening’s creativity, Cube(r), the latest plug and play personal 3D printer from Cubify, was on hand printing unique 3D models. 

Guests included Grant Imahara (MythBusters) and Wesley Chan (Google Ventures) noshed on local fare including tuna tartar, smoked salmon on potato crisp, and prawn and BB pork fried rice prepared by the hotel’s executive chef Tom Cerutti. Passed hors d’oeuvres were paired with wines from the California vineyards of Napa, Paso Robles, Russian River Valley, and Monterey.

This was the third event of the WIRED + Marriott Culturazzi Series, part of WIRED and Marriott’s partnership with WIRED Insiders — startup executives, digital game changers, gadget gurus, culture vultures, and adventurers — to curate monthly events through December, hosted at Marriott hotels, aimed to inspire, inform and entertain the next generation of travelers who blend work and play.  The series concludes next month in New York City at the WIRED store on Dec. 13.

Marriott Hotels & Resorts has been reimagining the guest experience, transforming its lobbies and public spaces to exceed the expectations of today’s travelers and the San Francisco Marriott Union Square offers the perfect mix of opportunities to work and play with 10,000 sq. ft. of conference, meeting and event space, breathtaking views of the Bay and city skyline and a location that’s just steps away from world-class shopping, restaurants, bars, and the theater district.

PRESS CONTACTS: 
Jennifer Clark on behalf of Marriott Hotels & Resorts
(212) 614-4862 (O) | (646) 204-5977 (C) | jennifer.clark@bm.com

Sara Steffenauer, Global Public Relations Manager, Marriott International
(301) 380-5953 (O) | (240) 271-8001 (C) |Sara.Steffenauer@marriott.com

Karen Shosfy, Senior Publicist, WIRED
(212) 286-7273 (O) | (646) 438-1328 (C) | Karen_Shosfy@wired.com 

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