Marriott International has stepped into the ring to take the fight for a share of the home rentals market, readying to launch a new brand loaded with more than 2,000 luxury homes in over 100 destinations.
The new brand – Homes and Villas by Marriott International – featured curated homes in destinations currently across the USA, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, with more to come. Each property comes backed by the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, with full points earn and burn applicability across the new brand.
Homes and Villas comes as an evolution of sorts from the Tribute Portfolio Homes pilot launched in Europe around a year ago, which saw average lengths of stay more than triple that of hotels.
Each property under the brand offers guests access to spacious homes and self-contained residential-style living with multiple bedrooms, internal kitchens, laundry, living and dining areas. Highlighted properties in the initial collection include a six-bedroom villa in Sorrento, Italy with a woodfire oven and an infinity pool overlooking the Mediterranean. Guests also have access to an 18th century Irish castle with sleeping space for up to 17 guests and access to a private lake for boating and fishing.
Destinations such as the Amalfi Coast, North Lake Tahoe in California and St Barts in the Caribbean have been added to the Marriott global portfolio as a result of the new brand, each previously unserved in the Marriott hotel network.
Properties in the new brand are already managed by external management companies and providing professional cleaning services, linens and high-speed WiFi.
Marriott International Global Chief Commercial Officer, Stephanie Linnartz, said the new brand reflects the company’s commitment to innovation in response to changing consumer needs.
“What started out as a pilot a year ago is now a global offering, providing our guests with the space and amenities of a home backed by a trusted travel company, and the very best in loyalty benefits.”