MARRIOTT EXPANDS MOBILE CHECK-IN AND CHECKOUT TO NEARLY 500 HOTELS

Marriott Hotels, the flagship brand of Marriott International has expanded its  mobile check-in and checkout globally for Marriott Rewards members to nearly 500 hotels. This means Marriott Rewards guests from London to Dubai to Shanghai to Mexico City to New York can check-in and checkout using the Marriott Mobile app on their smartphone.

“When we first began testing mobility, we went straight to the experts, our guests, who told us they wanted the power to check-in and checkout on their smartphones. Among Millennials, nine out of ten who tried mobile check-in and checkout for the first time gave it high marks and said they would use it again for their next stay,” said Paul Cahill, senior Vice President of Brand Management, Marriott Hotels.

Marriott Rewards members receive a push notification on their Apple iPhones or Android devices after 4 pm on the day before their arrival alerting them they can check-in. Then they receive an automatic notification when their room is ready. Because payment information is stored within members profiles, guests simply walk up to the expedited mobile check-in desk where their pre-programmed key card will be waiting for them.

At the end of their stays, guests receive a push notification alerting them mobile checkout is available. Upon completion, guests will then be prompted to provide an email address where their bill will be sent, allowing them to bypass the front desk.

The Marriott Hotels mobile innovation does not stop at check-in and checkout. For a glimpse into the future, 15 mobile “incubator” hotels in the U.S. are among the first in the industry enabling guests to text service requests, such as additional towels and pillows and valet service, and chat with the hotel’s hosts in real time.