MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL WINS INAUGURAL TRAVELWEEKLY EAST INNOVATORS AWARDS 2001

Marriott International Inc. (NYSE: MAR) has won the TravelWeekly East Innovators Awards 2001 in the Hotel Group category. The award is made in recognition of Marriott’s outstanding travel agent training program, “Hotel Excellence!”.

Introduced by Marriott in 1999, “Hotel Excellence!” is a ten-chapter, self-paced, home-study workshop designed as a training tool for travel agents. The program explains the complex lodging industry; provides tips on how to qualify, research and recommend lodging choices; and gives agencies an insider’s knowledge of Marriott International worldwide brands and products and how they can accommodate every one of the agency’s customers’ wants and needs.

“We are proud to win this award. Marriott firmly believes that travel counselors are a vital bridge between consumers and Marriott. That’s why we created the “Hotel Excellence!” sales training program for travel agents,” said Fred Miller, Vice President of Intermediary Sales and Marketing, Marriott International. “Our goal is to be the easiest hotel company for agencies to do business with. We will continue to invest in improving our travel agency programs, products and services that agents already rate as the best in the industry.”

“Marriott was recognized for its innovations in travel agency training, particularly its Preferred Travel Agency Program,” said Yeoh Siew Hoon, editorial director, TravelWeekly East. “In total, 180,000 travel agents have enrolled in its Hotel Excellence! sales training program. Of these, 32,000 travel agents have become Preferred Travel Agents and have been accredited as Hotel Sales Specialists.”

TravelWeekly East Innovators Awards 2001 was the first of what is to be an annual awards program organized by Reed Travel & Meetings Asia. It aims to recognize companies and individuals in Asia/Pacific that have been innovative in differentiating themselves from the competition by applying cutting edge management techniques.

“Our awards are about recognizing companies and individuals who have raised the bar in their existing market or changed the rules of the game or taken a simple idea and executed it well,” said Yeoh Siew Hoon, editorial director, TravelWeekly East. “We hope that these awards will set benchmarks in our industry so that players will be encouraged to up their game in whatever field they are in.”

The judging panel consisted of 20 judges from an industry cross-section representing the movers and shakers of the Asia/Pacific travel industry. They were asked to nominate their top three choices, and provide comments, in 13 categories which included Airline (International), Airline (Regional), Hotel Group, Individual Hotels (City), Individual Resorts, National Tourist Boards, Regional Tourist Boards, Technology Providers, Airports, Journey Makers, Experienced-based Attractions, Travel Agents/Tour Operators, Environment/Heritage. The final decision was made by the editorial team of TravelWeekly East.

A gala awards presentation ceremony was held at The Fullerton Hotel, Singapore, on July 20 with winners and media invited to attend. Thirty-four awards were presented and a Charity Talent Pledge was held in which leading travel personalities had volunteered to perform live to raise funds for The Community Chest of Singapore.