Marriott has unveiled a new home rentals offering, with 2,000 premium and luxury homes in over 100 destinations across Europe, the US, the Caribbean and Latin America.
Homes and Villas by Marriott International is an extension of the group’s Tribute Portfolio Homes pilot which has been running since last year.
The new programme will launch next week at homesandvillasbymarriott.com, with Marriott Bonvoy members able to earn and redeem points at the properties.
Members will earn points at the same ratio as those staying at Marriott’s long-stay brands – five points per $1 spent.
Marriott said that data from its Tribute Portoflio Homes pilot showed that 90 per cent of guests were Marriott Bonvoy members, with over three quarters travelling for leisure with family and friends, and the average stay being more than triple the typical hotel stay.
The group said that “These insights, along with Marriott’s commitment to providing travellers with unique and different accommodations including spacious homes with one or more bedrooms, large kitchens, in-unit laundry and more, played an important role in guiding the selection of luxury and premium homes, as well as the key leisure markets available at launch that complement the core offerings of Marriott’s hotel portfolio”.
Examples of properties available in the portfolio include a four-bedroom cottage in six acres of land in California wine country, and a six-bedroom London townhouse with a children’s playroom and climbing wall.
The rental properties will add nearly 40 destinations for Marriott Bonvoy members to earn and redeem points, including Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast, North lake Tahoe, and St Barts. Customers searching on marriott.com for three plus nights in locations where inventory exists, will be shown links to Home and Villas properties.
The properties will continue to be managed by “trusted property management companies”.
Commenting on the news Jennifer Hsieh, Vice President, Homes & Villas by Marriott International said:
“Our approach to home rentals allows us to curate an incredible collection of homes that deliver an elevated travel experience.
“By working with a select group of professional management companies that understand and operate in this dynamic landscape, we are able to focus on what we do best – selecting a breadth of homes in inspiring destinations, setting standards for responsive service and designing a seamless booking experience that helps our guests navigate an increasingly complex and uncertain set of home rental choices.”
Marriott is entering a growing market for luxury property rentals, with Accor having purchased luxury serviced homes provider Onefinestay in 2016, and companies including The Plum Guide focusing on the top end of the homeshare market.
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