Marriott top executives focus on Middle East markets for a high profile sales mission

The sales mission, from April 26 to 30, will involve 20 General Managers representing various Marriott properties around the world. The mission, which will cover Marriott hotels key markets in the Gulf region, is geared to promote Marriott's Look No FurtherSM Best Rate Guarantee, which the group launched on January 1, 2004.

Says Andreas Kohn, Director of Marketing, JW Marriott Dubai; "I'm delighted to inform that there has been very high occupancy rates at our properties, over last year by 15 percent and I thank all our customers for their loyalty and support towards our business. The sales mission will coordinate on efforts to augment high-end services in line with our regional marketing strategy. The visit will help in finalising our sales programmes to broaden our customer base."

"Our business results look very healthy and are increasing owing to a lot of inter-regional travel. The mission will help us equip our representatives with the necessary tools, besides helping us establish customer service skills in accordance with Marriott's philosophy and ways of implementing the same. The visit will primarily focus on promoting our Look No Further Guarantee scheme," added Samir Daqqaq, Vice President Global Sales-Middle East, Africa and Subcontinent.

The Marriott's Look No FurtherSM Best Rate Guarantee ensures that customers receive the best available room rate at its 2,500 hotels around the world, when booking through any Marriott reservations channel: Marriott Worldwide Reservations, online on Marriott.com, or directly with the hotel.

The Group has approved a total of 2,148 claims under the guarantee scheme since in inception on January 1. The total cost of claims was of the order of $160,425, a statement issued by the group stated.

Under the guarantee, if a customer books through Marriott and finds a lower publicly available rate within 24 hours for the same hotel, room type, and dates anywhere on an Internet travel site, through a travel agency, travel management company, or even Marriott, the hotel will match the lower rate and give an additional 25 per cent off. Marriott was the first major lodging company to offer such a comprehensive rate guarantee beyond the Internet.

The guarantee is a holistic approach that ensures all customers have equal access to the best available room rates. This is an important distinction between Marriott and other major lodging companies, which offer Internet-only guarantees and/or web-only rates. Marriott's Look No FurtherSM Best Rate Guarantee are on offer globally and apply to the following Marriott brands: Marriott Hotels and Resorts, Renaissance Hotels and Resorts, Courtyard, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn, Residence Inn, and TownePlace Suites, and Marriott Vacation Club International resorts.

"The Marriott guarantee reinforces the company's single image inventory principle to offer customers the same rates and availability information across Marriott reservation channels," added Mr. Daqqaq.

The Marriott Senior Management Sales Mission, which will further, Marriott's offers on the Look No FurtherSM Best Rate Guarantee across the Gulf markets, will conclude at the Arabian Travel Market happening in Dubai.