Marriott Adds Ritz To Guest Program

Marriott Rewards, the chain's frequent guest program, has been extended to all the lodging brands under the Marriott banner including five U.S. Ritz Carlton properties and one in Italy.

Booking business at Ritz Carlton properties in Naples, as well as in Atlanta, Buckhead (another property in Atlanta), Kansas City, Kapalua, Marina Del Ray, and Philadelphia can earn points or points earned elsewhere can be redeemed for complimentary stays of one, three, five, and/or seven night stays.

The program awards 10 points for every dollar spent at participating hotels, including Marriott Conference Centers.

The program now also allows points to be converted to frequent flier miles, complimentary airline tickets, cruises, resort packages or rental cars.

For the first time since the program's inception, participating meeting planners have the option of redeeming their points for free stays at the six lodging brands representing 1,000 hotels in 30 countries instead of limiting their choice to full-service hotels. In addition, the program offers member meeting and event planners an opportunity to leverage the 50,000 group and catering bonus points to all participating properties.

The 9 million member frequent reward guest program, once referred to as the Honored Guest program, eventually will expand to the hotel company's entire worldwide portfolio, which is scheduled to grow to 2,000 properties by the year 2000. Properties are set to open through 1998 in Guatemala, Ecuador, Thailand, Romania, the Philippines, Spain, Panama and Manchester, U.K. Marriott has 148 full-service properties in key cities worldwide.