July 2, 2019 View in browser

In the same week that Airbnb launched its own dedicated luxury homesharing product, it was interesting to hear from a rival about its own adventures in high-end rentals.

Marriott has come at the market from the other side of the divide. As the largest hotel company in the world, it has been pretty cautious in its experimentation so far, only launching Homes & Villas by Marriott International after a substantial pilot.

Speaking at Skift Tech Forum last week, Stephanie Linnartz, the hotel giant's global chief commercial officer, said one of the big drivers for getting involved in the first place was interest from members in its loyalty scheme. And Marriott estimates that about 90 percent of customers booking homes and villas through Marriott are Bonvoy members. That's a significant number.

"We wanted to make Bonvoy stickier, deeper, richer, so it's not surprising the bookings are mainly from loyalty," Linnartz said.

How deep Marriott gets in the alternative accommodations sector will depend on the take-up over a sustained period of time, but for now the company seems pretty happy with how things are progressing.

Skift Design Awards 2019
Free Email Course: A Guide to Using Visuals for Travel and Tourism Marketers
Sponsored by CrowdRiff

Visual content is a must-have for any marketing strategy. But it's especially important in travel and tourism, where inspiration, awe, and storytelling play a major role.

Read More
7 Looks at Luxury
Guest Behavior Is Key Part of the Lux Hospitality Equation

Luxury travelers often deconstruct what goes into the makings of great hospitality. It's also necessary, however, to ask what is required of guests so that they hold up their end of the bargain. It's a two-way street, and all too often we ignore one side of the equation.

Read More

Marriott Exec: We Want to Be Involved in Travel Beyond 4 Walls of a Hotel

Marriott's strategy for becoming part of a customer's entire travel journey, from booking to checkout, is tied heavily to its Bonvoy loyalty program. The more kinds of products the company offers, the more likely it will get what it wants.

Read More

6 Big Travel Takeaways From Skift Tech Forum

The travel industry is obsessed with Big Data and artificial intelligence. The genie is out of the bottle. But the best way to use it will trigger an intense debate and much soul-searching.

Read More

Space Tourism Could Be the Ultimate Adventure Trip for Travel Advisors

With Virgin Galactic's suborbital flights expected to begin at long last, space tourism could soon take off as a niche for travel advisors. Those already involved caution that it takes patience, training, and commitment.

Read More
Register Today for Skift Global Forum 2019

Our final stop for Skift Forum is New York City, where you can meet CEOs, CFOs, and CMOs of prominent travel companies in every industry sector! Secure your spot early to join us at Skift Global​ Forum on September 18–19.

Register Now
Cruising's Pollution Problem Won't Be Solved Any Time Soon

Cruise ships are giant floating hotels with shopping malls and casinos inside. The industry has made progress on sustainability, but much more needs to be done as consumer habits shift toward more sustainable vacation options.

Read More

The Biggest Barrier to Supersonic Travel May Be Its Carbon Footprint

The race to achieve zero-emission aviation is on, but alongside it, companies like Boom are focused on bringing about a new era of supersonic travel. They may find that environmental concerns cancel out their lofty innovation.

Read More

Mexico's Caribbean Beaches Fight a Losing Battle Against Seaweed

Environmental change will impact every destination in the coming years. For some it's flooding, and for others it's unbearable heatwaves. Here it's seaweed.

Read More

Skift Europe Editor Patrick Whyte [pw@skift.com] curates the New Luxury newsletter. Skift emails the newsletter every Tuesday.

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linked In Send via Email

For Gmail users: If you are using the tabbed inbox, Skift emails may be pushed to the 'Promotions' tab. To get updates from Skift direct to your primary inbox, drag and drop this email to that tab.

You received this email because you are subscribed to Skift New Luxury Newsletter from Skift.

If you'd like to unsubscribe from this email, click here

If you'd like to receive fewer emails, click here

If someone shared this email with you and you would like to subscribe, visit our newsletters page on Skift