Help Create the Future of Travel: Be Master Blenders
Growing up, I watched my father travel around the developing world as his work regularly took him abroad. When he traveled for work, he was working. In the same way, when he went to the office, he was at work. He worked hard, probably too hard, but when he was at home or traveling with us he was decidedly not at work — he was not calling the office or doing work-related correspondence and, of course, there were no emails or texts to worry about.
For my generation, we are quickly forgetting those days when we had no portable communication tools. My early years of business travel (before cell phones) included stops at long rows of pay phones in airports immediately before take-off and right after landing to check into the office, return calls from business partners and the like. The most important feature of the hotel room, similarly, was that telephone by the bed and the desk. Like many others, the 16-digit calling card number was so firmly memorized that I could punch it into the pay phone without thinking.
I know I didn’t do as well as my father, but in my first years of work, there was a relatively clear distinction between work and play. When I wasn’t working — in the office, on travel or at the bank of pay phones — I wasn’t working.
Both my father’s days and my generation’s early days are now decidedly gone. In large part because we are in touch at all times through smartphones that allow us to use our networks, text, email and, occasionally, call or take a call, the lines between work and play have essentially disappeared. In the same way, the lines between work travel and leisure travel have also disappeared. It is for this reason, that we at Marriott Hotels are celebrating the Master Blender — the person who can mix work and personal time seamlessly.
To help us understand this guest, we have asked them to help co-create the future of travel. We know that a clean room, a great shower and reliable room service are not enough. We need to provide a platform for adventure and inspiration so that our customers are engaged emotionally in their stay with us.
Beyond the inspirational side of travel, there are also very concrete questions that intrigue me. For example, in an age when we all seem to use smartphones and tablets — rather than laptops and paper — as our primary business and leisure tools, do we still need a desk in the guestroom? What about dressers and fridges? Do we use them? Do we ever unpack? Does anybody take a bath anymore?
Whether it is responses to these questions or others that are on your mind, help us co-create the future of travel. You can offer feedback on our TravelBrilliantly.com website or here, but please let me know what you think.
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Photos and video courtesy of Marriott Hotels
Manufacturer's Representative AP Nonweiler /PurEpoxy Coatings West Coast Sales Representative
10 年Is Marriott pushing away the small business traveler who does over 75 plus nights a year ? I have been a platinum member the past few years and was alerted yesterday my rate will double if I can't produce 500 nights a year. the company I work for only has 4 people working there so 500 nights is impossible. I enjoy the consistency and quality that Marriott provides but can't stay in the San Francisco Bay area for under $199.00 per night. I have had a corporate rate at the same location for years and everyone knows me by name there. Now they won't renew my rate so I won't make platinum status this year because of that. Shouldn't there be a program that rewards the :road warriors" who work for small businesses who travels a few nights a week or is Marriott only seeking large fortune 500 company travelers to stay at there locations now? I travel all over the world with Marriott Hotels and it bothers me I now am forced to look at another hotel chain.
Managing Director Veera Tours International (P) Ltd.
10 年Such a wonderful topics. I appreciate it and happy to share some few words against it. In this fastest growing modern life, we have to thing twice before commencing our travel destination, where can we have it all that we expect from the land of our dream.....
My path is helping companies achieve their business technology goals, achieving better integrations, cooperation, communication. Sharing my experience when requested and always looking for new opportunities.
11 年Maybe I think a bit differently, because I am approaching the question from the operating point of view rather then the traveller. Can you imagine operating a hotel of 200 rooms with maybe 10-15 of your own staff? Operating a hotel by outsourcing as much back office as you can and employing the latest technology would enable you to do just that without having a negative impact on the guest experience or even improving it siginificantly. That would be the future of travel from the hotel operations aspect, I think. Working with hotel technology has made me very sensitive about issues in Hotel Operations which are connected with cost, profitability, advanced reporting, guest experience and all these. I am probably too much of a scientist, IT person, thinker, Project Manager, you name it. I absolutely agree, that todays hotel rooms contain items, that are not necessary anymore or should aligned with the business profile of the hotel.
Talk to me about making waste 100% circular and eradicating the toxic landfills.
11 年Free wifi must! Even in the lobbies or in the cafes where you can have business meetings.
Asst. General Manager
11 年I work with our guest hand and hand every day the Marriott Downtown mag Mile. I believe that the first impression to our is guest is an ever lasting impression. At the moment we make first contact with our guest, you will be surprised of the small things our guests remember about us and our hotel. That's why it's very important to stay engaged with our guests and provide the best products and service that we know how. The key is (Word of mouth). We must listen to our guests experiences and learn to embrace their emotional side and build upon it to bring an every lasting endeavor of partnership with our guests. Bobby Glover Marriott Downtown Mag Mile