In the Hot Seat: Simon Cooper, Ritz-Carlton

Marriott International is undergoing a reorganization that will bring more of the operations of its luxury Ritz-Carlton brand under the corporate umbrella. Hotels editor Jeri Clausing talked with Simon Cooper, president of Ritz-Carlton’s global operations, about how the brand has fared during the downturn in luxury and meetings travel and what the new Marriott structure means for Ritz-Carlton’s future.

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Marriott Executive Apartments Manama Hosts "Amex-Gulf Air Bahrain Fam Trip"

Manama, Bahrain – The Marriott Executive Apartments Manama, Bahrain has recently welcomed the group of American Express Travel who visited Bahrain for courtesy and familiarization. The fam trip was organized by the Gulf Air and Marriott Global Sales Office London with the purpose of tightening relationship between the Gulf Air, American Express and travel industries in both Bahrain and the United Kingdom. The group, which consists of 10 travel professionals from London, had an opportunity to visit the Royal Gulf Club, Bahrain International Circuit, Ritz Carlton, Al Dar island and some other places of interest in the Kingdom.

Director of Sales Marriott Executive Apartments Manama Marwan Haddad (back row, first from left), Sales Manager Marriott London Global Sales Jill Galt (front row, first from left) and Key Account Manager Gulf Air Gianni Salvadori (back row, first from right) with members of Amex-Gulf Air familiarization trip.

"We are pleased to welcome and host the Amex-Gulf Air Bahrain Fam trip, as we truly support travel industries in London to promote Bahrain in the UK market," said Director of Sales Marriott Executive Apartments Manama, Marwan Haddad.

Jill Galt from Marriott Global Sales Office based in London said that the tour was one of the efforts to promote Bahrain destination in the UK market. Looking at the current trend, Jill sees there is a significant demand in London for both business and leisure travel. Jill added, through a good consolidation with all stakeholders and particularly mutual cooperation with airline industries like the Gulf Air, Bahrain could be an international hub, linking to GCC countries and other destinations such as Asia Pacific.

"This is a great opportunity to visit Bahrain and meet our partners in the airlines, hotels and travel industry and I would like to thank Marriott Executive Apartments for giving us a wonderful stay at their luxury accommodation," said Jill.

Familiarization trip in airlines, travel and hospitality industry is a tradition among travel and hospitality professionals to visit various destinations with the purpose of maintaining good relationship, promoting destinations and therefore to enhance business opportunities.

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Marriott Executive Apartments, the upscale serviced apartment brand of Marriott International (NYSE: MAR) will nearly double in size in the next 36 months to respond to a growing need in many emerging markets for long-term stay lodging for executive expatriates needing spacious housing and hotel amenities. Including Bahrain, Marriott operates 17 Marriott Executive Apartments in 14 countries outside the U.S., and 14 more hotels are planned in countries such as Qatar, Thailand, Egypt, China, India, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.


MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) is a leading lodging company with more than 3,200 lodging properties in 67 countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Bulgari brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club, The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club and Grand Residences by Marriott brands as well as Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers. The company is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and had approximately 146,000 employees at 2008 year-end. It is recognized by BusinessWeek as one of the 100 best global brands, by FORTUNE® as one of the best companies to work for, and by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as Partner of the Year since 2004. In fiscal year 2008, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of nearly $13 billion. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com. For an interactive online version of Marriott's 2008 Annual Report, which includes a short video message from Chairman and CEO J.W. Marriott, Jr., visit www.marriott.com/investor.

Marriott Accelerates Green Hotel Development

Marriott International, Inc. is expanding its green hotel portfolio 10-fold over the next five years by introducing a green hotel prototype that will be pre-certified LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), an internationally recognized green building certification system designed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

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