What Worries Buyers About a Marriott-Starwood Merger

BTN asked 200 travel buyers how a Marriott-Starwood merger would affect their corporate travel programs. One said, “I will be able to eliminate some hotels, as I don’t have to support two partners in the new model, so I may be able to leverage more.” Another travel buyer worried about Marriott’s ability to manage 30 hotel brands and also wondered, “Will they maintain enough business travel sales staff to continue relationships with all customers or just the big ones?” BTN conducted the survey between Dec. 7, 2015, and Jan. 4, 2016.