Jul 9, 2024   SOURCE: PR NewsWire

Marriott International Launches 'Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy' To Ease Travel Management Process for Small to Medium-Sized Businesses

The Program combines the benefits of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio with a suite of travel tools to seamlessly book, manage, and expense business travel

BETHESDA, Md., July 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Marriott International today announced the launch of Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy(TM) ("the Program"), a comprehensive online travel booking program designed as a direct channel for small to medium-sized businesses. The Program combines an expanded booking experience with benefits and rewards available only through Marriott Bonvoy's award-winning travel program and portfolio of brands. Starting today, Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy is available to small to medium-sized businesses based in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America and is anticipated to expand to other regions.

According to a global survey commissioned by Marriott Bonvoy® and conducted by Wakefield Research among business travelers at small to medium-sized businesses in the U.S., UK, Canada, and Mexico,(1) 75% report experiencing frustrations with their travel booking platforms. 56% say they are difficult to use, 27% are unhappy with the inability to book travel and hotels from the same place, and more than a quarter (27%) express disappointment with the platforms' lack of integration with their travel expense programs. In fact, 58% are so unwilling to work within their current programs that they would rather ask for forgiveness than permission for booking outside their companies' travel management platforms.

With Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy, companies have the ability to book hotels in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio at a discounted rate, as well as flights, rail, and rental cars, within one easy-to-use multilingual tool. The Program includes additional features that satisfy business needs, such as access to live traveler data, real-time reporting, and expense management.

"We recognize the significant value small businesses provide to the hotel industry, which is why we're excited to combine the benefits of our award-winning travel program with a comprehensive suite of tools in Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy," said Drew Pinto, Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue and Technology Officer, Marriott International. "Whether small to medium-sized businesses are looking for convenient online booking capabilities for their employees or better expense management solutions, the all-in-one platform, merged with our portfolio of hotel brands around the world, provides everything they need to manage their business travel needs."

With a seamless experience at every step, companies can now take their travel to the next level and benefit from the following features:

    --  Discounted Marriott Bonvoy Rates and Awards: Small to medium-sized
        businesses that join Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy will be eligible
        to select a discount at hotels in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio around
        the world (subject to availability) while earning points for future
        stays at participating hotels, room upgrades, and more. Participating
        businesses can also receive Marriott Bonvoy Elite status awards after
        certain companywide usage thresholds are reached. These status awards
        can be gifted to employees, who can enjoy the benefits that each
        Marriott Bonvoy Elite status level provides to members.Small businesses
        that have the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, the
        Marriott Bonvoy Premier Plus Business Credit Card from Chase, or the
        Marriott Bonvoy Business Credit Card from Chase are also invited to
        apply for Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy. All Marriott Bonvoy
        Business Credit Card Members who join the Program can continue to enjoy
        the benefits of their Cards.
    --  Elevated Shopping Experience: The online booking tool serves as a
        one-stop shop for small to medium-sized business travelers to compare,
        book, manage, and change Marriott Bonvoy hotel, flight, rail, and car
        rental reservations all within one integrated platform that supports
        compliance with their companies' travel policies.
    --  Customizable Travel Policies: Travel managers can take control of their
        companies' travel policies and ensure compliance with spending limits.
        From setting clear guidelines for their unique needs to managing
        expenses, the self-service tool makes it easy for managers to make
        changes.
    --  Global Travel Policy Management and Reporting: Real-time analytics
        empower managers with detailed insights on travel spend, sustainability
        reporting and behavior so they can make policy adjustments.
    --  Traveler Health and Safety Monitoring: The travel insights tool gives
        managers the ability to monitor the well-being and safety of employees
        on the move. Managers can view interactive maps to stay informed of
        potential disruptions and proactively mitigate risks, helping keep teams
        safe and their businesses running smoothly.
    --  Expense Management Solutions: Businesses that sign up for Business
        Access by Marriott Bonvoy will have the option to use an expense
        management tool. Travelers can choose to integrate the Program with
        existing expense management platforms and submit payments with virtual
        credit cards. They can also automate expense reports based on set
        policies, making it easy for managers to approve and reconcile expenses.
    --  Access to Marriott Bonvoy Benefits: Employees of small and medium-sized
        businesses who join Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy will have full
        access to the offerings of Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International's
        award-winning travel program and marketplace. Members can take advantage
        of benefits such as member rates, free breakfast, late checkout, mobile
        check-in, mobile keys, and mobile chat on the Marriott Bonvoy mobile
        app, free in-room Wi-Fi, room upgrades and more, subject to
        availability. Additionally, members can earn points at properties
        participating in Marriott Bonvoy globally and enjoy free stays by
        redeeming points or a combination of points and cash or use points to
        bid on Marriott Bonvoy Moments® experiences.

Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy is powered by Spotnana, a Travel-as-a-Service platform modernizing the infrastructure of the travel industry.

For more information on Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy or to apply for the Program, visit www.marriott.com/businessaccess.

(1 )The Marriott Business Travelers Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research between May 22 and May 29, 2024, among 1,500 business travelers at small to medium-sized companies in the U.S., UK, Canada, and Mexico, with "business travelers" defined as those taking a business-related trip requiring an overnight stay in the past 12 months, using an email invitation and an online survey. "Small companies" are defined as those with fewer than 1,000 employees, and "midsize companies" are defined as those with 1,000-4,999 employees.

Note on forward-looking statements
All statements in this press release are made as of July 9, 2024. Marriott International ("we" and "our") undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of federal securities laws, including statements related to additional expected offerings by Marriott International and similar statements concerning anticipated future events and expectations that are not historical facts. We caution you that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to numerous evolving risks and uncertainties that we may not be able to accurately predict or assess, including the risk factors that we identify in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our most recent Annual Reports on Form 10-K or Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Any of these factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations we express or imply in this press release.

About Marriott Bonvoy®
Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International's award-winning travel program and marketplace, gives members access to transformative, eye-opening experiences around the corner and across the globe. Marriott Bonvoy's portfolio of more than 30 extraordinary hotel brands offers renowned hospitality in the most memorable destinations in the world. Members can earn points for stays at hotels and resorts, including all-inclusive resorts and premium home rentals, as well as through everyday purchases with co-branded credit cards. Members can redeem their points for experiences including future stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments®, or through partners for luxurious products from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques®. With the Marriott Bonvoy app, members enjoy a level of personalization and contactless experience that allows them to travel with peace of mind. To enroll for free or for more information about Marriott Bonvoy, visit marriottbonvoy.com. To download the Marriott Bonvoy app, go here. Travelers can also connect with Marriott Bonvoy on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

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SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.