Marriott Vacation Club is teaming up with Audubon International to further the “greening” of its resorts in North America and the Caribbean region through the Audubon Green Leaf Eco-Rating Program for Hotels.  This latest endeavor is part of Marriott Vacation Club’s larger Green Initiative which began at its corporate headquarters, and has continued with various program roll-outs to various resorts worldwide. In addition to these most recent steps, each Marriott Vacation Club resort has established its own “green team”, which manages its environmental efforts. With 28 resorts currently enrolled, Marriott’s signature timeshare brand expects to have all 43 resorts in the region participating in the program by next year.  In 2009 the brand demonstrated its continued commitment to green operations by implementing recycled key cards, pens and Forest Stewardship Council certified paper for guest arrival packets at its resorts, thus eliminating more waste added to landfills.

As an extension of Marriott Vacation Club’s current Green Initiative program, the Audubon Green Leaf Eco-Rating Program combines environmental awareness and education with best management practices tailored to the lodging industry. In order to achieve a “Green Leaf” rating, resorts must meet requirements for water quality, water conservation, waste minimization, resource conservation and energy efficiency. After a review of the environmental checklist, a verification audit is conducted and resorts receive a rating from one to five “Green Leafs.”  The company’s Spirit To Preserve(R) environmental strategy calls for: greening its $10 billion supply chain and further reducing energy and water consumption by 25 percent per available room by 2017.  Marriott Vacation Club’s green initiatives are a key component to Marriott International’s commitment to protecting the environment. Building on more than 20 years of energy conservation experience, Marriott is committed to protecting the environment.

Source: Marriott.com and hospitality industry, November 2010

Frequent travelers give Marriott Rewards top honors at the first annual Frequent Travel Awards, sponsored by the Frequent Travel Educational Association.  Ed French, senior vice president for Marriott Rewards was quoted as saying, “Marriott Rewards is designed for our guests so there is no bigger honor than to be recognized by our members as the best in the business…we are constantly striving for ways to make our program better for our members.  This year we have added new brands where members can earn and redeem points, elite night rollover and instant redemptions allowing members to redeem points for virtually anything on their folio at any point during their hotel stay.”

Marriott Rewards won 11 of the 15 hotel loyalty program awards, including Program of the Year for the America, Europe and African guest hotel/resorts.  Frequent guests point to Marriott Reward exciting features such as:

> Program of the year – Americas
> Program of the year – Europe/Africa
> Best Redemption Promotion – Americas
> Best Redemption Promotion – Europe/Africa
> Best Redemption Promotion – Middle East/Asia
> Best Redemption Ability – Americas
> Best Redemption Ability – Europe/Africa
> Best Redemption Ability – Middle East /Asia
> Best Earning Promotion – Americas
> Best Earning Promotion – Europe/Africa
> Best Earning Promotion – Middle East/Asia

The Frequent Traveler Awards represent excellence in frequent travel programs worldwide, rating the best frequent flyer and frequent guest programs by evaluating select programs in one of three global regions; Americas, Europe/Africa, and the Middle East/Asia and Oceania, and consider airline and hotel programs in relation to the Hotel or Resort destination.

Information provided by the AP, November 18^th, 2010

Marriott International has recently announced that it expects to expand its portfolio from the current 11 to 100 hotels in India within the next five years across seven leading brands.  In addition to the introduction of its Ritz-Carlton brand, Marriott expansion plans will include the debut of its moderate-tier Fairfield by Marriott brand.

The seven agreements announced are for five moderate-priced Courtyard properties, an upscale Marriott hotel and a life-style Renaissance property.  Some of the planned properties include:

> 100-plus room Courtyard by Marriott Kochi/Cochin International Airport. It is owned by Lulu Flight Kitchen Private Ltd. and is planned to open in 2012.

> 100-plus room Courtyard by Marriott Bhopal. It is owned by DB Malls Private Ltd. and is planned to open in the first half of 2012

> 150-plus room Courtyard by Marriott Chembur; owned by Acron Hotels Private Ltd. The hotel’s first phase is scheduled to open in 2013 with an additional 75ish rooms expected to be added

> 150-room Courtyard by Marriott Nashik; owned by Wasan Hotels Private Ltd.; the hotel is expected to open in 2013

> 200-room Courtyard by Marriott Hyderabad Hitec City. It is owned by Future InfraIndia Private Ltd. and is scheduled to open in 2013

> 365-room Jaipur Marriott Hotel; owned by Serveall Land Developers Private Ltd. and is expected to open in 2011

> 150-room Renaissance Raipur Hotel, opening in 2013 and owned by Krish Hotels Private Ltd

Marriott International has operated in India since 1999 with the opening of the Goa Marriott. Today the company is represented in the country by its JW Marriott, Marriott, Renaissance, Courtyard by Marriott and Marriott Executive Apartments brands. Another 23 of its hotels are currently under construction and expected to open now through 2013.

Source: Marketwire, June 21, 2010

Greater flexibility, further personalization and more experience opportunities for Owners is what Marriott Vacation Club, the premier timeshare brand of Marriott International, had in mind when they developed the points-based Marriott Vacation Club Destinations program for North America and Caribbean timeshare hotels and resorts.

Lee Cunningham, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Marriott Vacation Club, North America and the Caribbean was quoted saying “after a quarter century of providing unforgettable vacations, we are excited to announce the most significant program innovation in our history: a new product offering that is easy to use and will provide our Owners unparalleled flexibility”.  The vacation program was designed specifically for both current and future Owners and will offer an enhanced opportunity to new customers going forward.  Current Owners will maintain the full rights and privileges of their ownership; at the same time, existing Owners will have the choice to enroll in this new program to further enhance their vacation experience.

The Marriott Vacation Club Destinations program allows Owners to redeem Vacation Club Points to travel within any of the four Vacation Collections listed below:

1. Marriott Vacation Club Collection: Enjoy reservation access among 50-plus luxurious Marriott Vacation Club resorts, and take advantage of the ease of any day check-in, varied lengths of stay, accommodation-size options, and an increase in choices for travel season at resorts in North America and the Caribbean

2. Marriott Collection: Have your choice from over 3,000 hotels, and experience new destinations through trade for Marriott Rewards points

3. Explorer Collection:  Lead the way and explore new lands or cruise the seas in luxury with exchange for exceptional travel packages

4. World Traveler Collection: Gain access to a global system of over 2,500 resorts in more than 75 countries through Marriot Vacation Club’s esteemed exchange partner, Interval International

The program is structured such that Marriott Vacation Club Destinations Owners will receive annually, an allocation of Vacation Club Points to redeem for customized getaway experiences.  Also, owners have the ability to bank, borrow, or purchase additional Vacation Club Points each year.  A personalized feature of the program provides Owners the services of a personal Vacation Ownership Advisor to assist in travel arrangements within any one of the four Collections.

Marriott Vacation Club announces the start of sales for Marriott’s Kauai Lagoons on the beautiful island of Kauai, Hawaii. Occupancy is slated for August 2010.

Marriot Vacation Club’s 400,000 plus members will have the luxury of enjoying a charmed island lifestyle at Marriott’s new Kauai Lagoon.  Hawaiian-inspired furnishings define the luxurious two-bedroom/two-bathroom floor plans, which offer approximately 1,300 square feet of living space for down time.

Villa Features:
Two-bedroom villas can accommodate up to 6 guests and comfortably offer: Fully-equipped kitchen with granite countertops and high-end stainless steel appliances, multiple flat-panel televisions with DVD players, oversized shower in master bath, luxurious bedding, washer/dryer and a large lanai with panoramic ocean and sunset views.

Once settled at a villa, guests may have the option to venture out to the following Features and Amenities:  Two-level pool with heated spa, Kauai Lagoons Golf Club which is signatured by a Jack Nicklaus Golf Course, outdoor picnic and grilling areas, miles of peaceful walking trails and shuttle service to and from Lihue Airport.

On March 10, 2010, Marriott Vacation Club International and Interval International signed an agreement renewal extending their relationship for years to come. The popular timeshare resort company and the well respected exchange company originally began their relationship in 1990, and this extension of their relationship will add to their already renowned image. Both companies are highly regarded for their unfailing commitment to quality, high levels of customer service, and innovative techniques in the industry.

Although Interval works with over 2,500 resorts worldwide, the special relationship with Marriott Vacation Club brings a previously unheard of level of service to Marriott owners. Interval designates a select group of their representatives to handling Marriott clients exclusively, providing a more comprehensive level of assistance. This allows Marriott owners direct access to trading their accommodations for a resort within the Marriott portfolio or from among the 2,500-plus resorts in Interval’s worldwide network, as well as an array of other leisure programs and benefits.

Read more about this here.

Marriott Vacation Club Announces the opening of their lastest resort Marriott Kauai Lagoons on the beautiful Island of Kauai, Hawaii.  This new resort spands 520 acres of ocean front real estate with 38 acres of freshwater lagoons.  The units have a lucurious two-bedroom two bathroom floor plan and is roughly 1300 sq ft. of living space.  The units are funished nicly with oversized showers, multiple Flat-panel Televisions with DVD Players, washer and Dryer, and showcase amazing panoramic ocean and sunset views.

to read more about this resort click here