Marriott International Chain Of Hotels Enters Zanzibar

Marriott International is in final talks with Pennyroyal Gibraltar for the management of Zanzibar Amber Resort in Zanzibar, Tanzania.

The new luxury hotel whose development began this year will be among leading tourist facilities with a world-class golf course. The US$330 million Zanzibar Amber Resort will be one-of-a-kind in sub-Saharan Africa, developers Ritz Carlton said.

President for Marriott Middle East and Africa, the parent company of Ritz Carlton, Alex Kyriakidis, said the hotel will occupy the prime Indian Ocean coastline on the northeast of Zanzibar. The hotel design will combine modern architecture and a touch of Zanzibar style to bring together the unique feeling of Tanzanian hospitality.

Kyriakidis is visiting Zanzibar island to familiarize himself with the project and meet with some of the prominent stakeholders in the island’s tourism industry and the government of Zanzibar.

“This development will be a catalyst for boosting premium tourism to the island of Zanzibar and Tanzania in general,” he said.

Zanzibar Amber Resort, a mixed-use project will offer a retail souk, a tropical aqua park, a marina, an equestrian center, and international polo club, along with further hotels, Kyriakidis noted.

The expansive facility will also feature East Africa’s first signature golf course, he added.

Developers say they are working in close collaboration with local stakeholders, including the government and the Ministry of Environment, to master plan a self-sufficient and sustainably-designed community with energy plants, agriculture, aquaculture, and potentially an airfield in the later stages of the project.

“Currently, the luxury hotel brand Ritz Carlton has only one hotel in Africa located in Cairo, Egypt, and Zanzibar Amber Resort is proud to have the luxury brand in its portfolio,” Kyriakidis added.

“Having Ritz Carlton onboard the Amber portfolio will place Zanzibar on the prime tourist charts, which is part of our focus – to change the perception of Zanzibar from a backpacking tourist destination to high-end tropical paradise,” commented Saleh Said, the Director of Pennyroyal Gibraltar.

Marriott International, Inc. is an American multinational hotel company that manages a broad portfolio of hotels and related lodging facilities.

Located off the eastern coast of Tanzania, Zanzibar is a tropical island offering visitors a chance to relax on its pristine beaches or explore its history in ancient trading towns.

Referred to by the locals as “Unguja,” the island is the biggest in the Zanzibar archipelago. Zanzibar City, the capital of the region, consists of the historic Stone Town.

Considered to be the oldest building in Zanzibar City, the Old Fort that was built in the late 17th century to protect the natives from the Portuguese, serves as a venue for the Zanzibar International Film Festival, East Africa’s largest film, music and arts festival.

Nungwi Beach or Paje Beach are Zanzibar’s best places for scuba diving which is a popular activity in the area by its reefs off the island’s coast. Its trigger fish, eels, and even humpback dolphins are best seen in this part of the island.

The Williamsburg Lodge To Join Marriott International’s Autograph Collection Hotels

THE WILLIAMSBURG LODGE TO JOIN

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL’S AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION HOTELS

The Historic Colonial Williamsburg Property Joins the Distinctive Collection of Independent Properties in January 2017

Williamsburg, VA  – The Williamsburg Lodge, a four-star rated Forbes Travel Guide hotel and a member of the Historic Hotels of America collection, is thrilled to announce today that it has joined Autograph Collection Hotels, Marriott International’s distinctive portfolio of over 100 independent, one-of-a-kind hotels.

The vision behind Autograph Collection Hotels is to celebrate individuality and independence by creating an evolving ensemble of strikingly independent four and five star hotels. Each hotel is hand selected for its memorable guest experience, bold originality, rich character and uncommon details.

“We are thrilled to be joining Marriott International’s Autograph Collection Hotels portfolio,” said Florencio Ferrao, Colonial Williamsburg’s Vice President of Hospitality. “It’s a perfect fit that will allow the Williamsburg Lodge to refresh and retain its individual personality while offering more value to our guests through enhanced services and access to the worldwide Marriott Rewards network.”

The Colonial Williamsburg Company, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s for-profit subsidiary, will continue to own and operate the Williamsburg Lodge. By joining Autograph Collection Hotels, Colonial Williamsburg will benefit from its reservation distribution system, while guests who are enrolled in the award-winning Marriott Rewards® loyalty program are able to earn points during hotel stays at The Williamsburg Lodge. These points can be redeemed for free holidays, flights, hotel rooms and merchandise, including jewelry, home furnishings, fashion and more. 

Comprised of seven distinct buildings, the Williamsburg Lodge features include 323 attractively-appointed guestrooms with modern amenities and furnishings inspired by the collections of Colonial Williamsburg’s celebrated Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum; 45,000 square feet of meetings and banquet space including two large ballrooms, 28 meeting rooms and four outdoor function areas; two Southern-inspired food and beverage outlets, Sweet Tea & Barley and Traditions; and access to The Golden Horseshoe Golf Club’s award-winning three golf courses as well as The Spa of Colonial Williamsburg’s world-class services and facilities including a state-of-the-art fitness center, two outdoor pools and indoor lap pool.

Opened in 1939 to provide comfortable accommodations for travelers to the historic town, the Williamsburg Lodge is one of the first Colonial Williamsburg hotels constructed under the guidance of John D. Rockefeller Jr., the founder and first benefactor of the town’s restoration.  From the original blue stone floors to the cypress accents and reproduction folk art, in every cozy nook and spacious expanse, the Lodge tells the story of its Virginia setting and the history of the town Rockefeller restored.

Additional information is available online at www.colonialwilliamsburg.com, by calling 855-296-6627, on Facebook and @colonialwmsburg on Twitter and Instagram.

For further information on Autograph Collection Hotels, visit www.autographhotels.com.

Travelore News: Marriott And Starwood Hotels Are Now One

Marriott International, Inc. has completed its acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., creating the world's largest and best hotel company. Marriott now offers the most comprehensive portfolio of brands including leading lifestyle brands, a significant global footprint, and leadership in the luxury and select-service tiers as well as the convention and resort segment.

Beginning today, Marriott will match member status across Marriott Rewards – which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards – and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), enabling members to transfer points between the programs for travel and exclusive experiences when they link their accounts later today.

"Throughout our nearly 90-year history we have never stopped searching for innovative ways to serve our guests. With the addition of Starwood's strong brands, great properties, and talented people, we have dramatically expanded our ability to provide the best experiences to our customers. We also welcome the tremendous responsibility as the world's largest hotel company to be a good global steward, providing new opportunities for our associates and building the economic strength of the communities we call home," said J.W. Marriott, Jr., Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Marriott International.

"We believe that Marriott now has the world's best portfolio of hotel brands, the most comprehensive global footprint, and the most extensive loyalty programs, providing an unparalleled guest experience. Combining Starwood's brands with ours better enables Marriott to reach our goal of having the right brand in the right place to serve our loyal guests and welcome new ones," said Arne Sorenson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Marriott International. "We can now provide a better range of choices for our guests, more opportunities for our associates, and greater financial benefits for our owners, franchisees, and shareholders."

The new company will operate or franchise more than 5,700 properties and 1.1 million rooms, representing 30 leading brands from the moderate-tier to luxury in over 110 countries. With the completion of this acquisition, Marriott's distribution has more than doubled in Asia and the Middle East & Africa combined.

Best-in-Class Loyalty Programs

Marriott Rewards – which includes the Ritz-Carlton Rewards – and SPG are the most recognized and awarded loyalty programs in hospitality. Together, these programs will offer members more benefits when they link their accounts, as well as new destinations such as Aruba, Tuscany's Serchio Valley and Kruger National Park in South Africa for SPG members and the Maldives, Bora Bora and Santorini, Greece for Marriott Rewards and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards members.

"Marriott will draw upon the very best each program offers and we can't wait to show the loyal members of these programs the power and benefits of Marriott and Starwood coming together," said Stephanie Linnartz, Executive Vice President and Global Chief Commercial Officer.

Marriott will launch a microsite later today, www.members.marriott.com, for all members of the combined company's loyalty programs to learn more about the reciprocal benefits now available and to link accounts.

Transaction Benefits

Marriott's acquisition of Starwood enables the combined company to expand the scope of its distribution and portfolio while deploying its larger scale to realize cost efficiencies in its corporate and property operations. As previously stated, Marriott is confident the company can achieve $250 million in annual corporate cost synergies. Additional synergies at the property level should come in the form of leveraging scale in operations and sharing best practices. Combined sales expertise and improved account coverage are expected to provide both enhanced efficiencies and increased revenue opportunities for managed and franchised properties.

"These enhanced efficiencies and revenue opportunities should drive improved property-level profitability as well as greater owner and franchisee preference for the combined company's brands, which will encourage new hotel development," Sorenson said. "As new travel destinations emerge, Marriott can be counted on to be there."

One-time transaction costs for the merger are expected to total approximately $140 million. Marriott intends to take the steps necessary to cause Starwood's outstanding public debt to be pari passu with the outstanding public debt of Marriott International. Marriott remains committed to maintaining an investment grade credit rating and to continue managing the balance sheet prudently after the merger.

New Board Members and Shares Listing

Effective today, Marriott's Board of Directors has increased from 11 to 14 members, with the addition of Bruce Duncan, Chairman, President and CEO of First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc., Eric Hippeau, Partner, Lerer Hippeau Ventures; and Aylwin Lewis, Chairman and CEO of Potbelly Corporation. Messrs. Hippeau and Lewis are also former Starwood board members.

Before market open today, Starwood's shares will cease trading on the New York Stock Exchange. As previously announced, Starwood shareholders will receive $21.00 in cash and 0.80 shares of Marriott International, Inc. Class A common stock for each share of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. common stock.

Arne Sorenson remains President and Chief Executive Officer of Marriott International, and Marriott's headquarters continues to be located in Bethesda, Maryland.

Lazard and Citigroup were financial advisors to Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and Deutsche Bank Securities and Goldman Sachs were the financial advisors to Marriott International. Cravath, Swaine & Moore served as legal counsel to Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher served as legal counsel to Marriott 

Favorite Mid-Scale Hotels: Top Picks From Our Travel Panel

By Nancy Trejos, USA TODAY

Corrections and clarifications:A June 27 article misstated free amenities at Hilton Garden Inn properties. Complimentary cooked to order breakfast is offered only for elite loyalty program members. Complimentary wine is only for elite members in certain hotels.

The Hilton Garden Inn brand was praised by frequent travelers for amenities and service. This is the Downtown Nashville/Convention Center location (Photo: Hilton Worldwide)

For Mike Maloney, consistency is key when staying at a hotel.

For that reason, his favorite mid-scale hotel brand is Hilton Garden Inn.

“You know what to expect at each location,” he says.

The consumer products consultant from Overland Park, Kan., says the Hilton Worldwidebrand has also won him over with its clean and comfortable rooms and food and beverage selections that he calls on par with upscale hotels.

He also praises the brand for its staff and service, “Everyone makes you feel like you are a VIP from the time you check in until the time you leave,” adding that he has seen "very little turnover in the staff,” at the locations he stays.

USA TODAY conducted an informal survey to determine favorite mid-scale hotel brands among readers.

A total of 128 members of our Road Warriors panel cast votes. These frequent travelers chose a variety of brands. But the one that got the most votes —23—was Hilton Garden Inn, which bills itself as an upscale but mid-priced lodging option.

Hilton Garden Inns offer free Wi-Fi. Complimentary cooked to order breakfast is available to Gold and Diamond Hilton Honors Members. Some properties also offer free wine to elite HHonors members. The hotels also offer a business center and meetings rooms for the business traveler.

Bob Bowen, a human resources consultant in Canton, Ohio, appreciates the spacious rooms at the Hilton Garden Inn. He calls the pillows excellent.

And, he says, “the shower head is above my head so I don’t have to bend in the morning to shower.”

Another morning perk that won over Andrea Warren, a financial consultant in Birmingham, Ala., was the free breakfast.

“It had a larger than usual breakfast menu and they gave me a free bottle of wine,” she says. “Breakfast is a big factor for me when selecting a hotel.”

William Waff, a retired army officer from Gurnee, Ill., loves the Hilton Garden Inn in Mt. Holly, N.J. He pretty much lived there from October 2010 through September 2013.

“They allowed me to keep a suitcase and uniform box in the baggage closet when I was not there, which eliminated me having to haul stuff back and forth with me,” he says. “They also pretty much kept the same room 'fenced' off for me with some additional table lamps and other specific items in the room that made it much more personal".

Hilton Worldwide in general earned high marks among Road Warriors looking for mid-priced housing options. Ten other Road Warriors say they turn to Hilton when looking for affordable lodging.

Another Hilton brand, Hampton Inn, got 10 votes.

“The rooms are generally more spacious than other chains, with a more upscale feel,” says Tom Gauer, a media analyst in Kansas City, Mo. “The property is meticulously maintained, and the staff goes way beyond efficient and friendly.”

He also enjoys the free breakfast with hot entrees that rotate every three or four days.

Marriott International, which is in the process of buying Starwood Hotels and Resorts, also got many votes of approval.

Its Courtyard by Marriott brand was singled out by 16 frequent travelers.

“In their newer properties they have the best room for working on the road,” says George Evans, a health care consultant at Pascagoula, Miss. “Rooms are adequately sized, very nice work desk area with lots of plugs, great desk chair. Good selection of TV, free internet. Very consistent experience from property to property.”

Drew Guenett, an automotive trainer and consultant in Scottsdale, Ariz., says that in addition to helping him work, staying at Courtyards helps him relax.

“They do a great job of making you feel at home in your own living room,” he says.

Marriott’s Fairfield Inn, which has 700 locations, also impressed business travelers with their free Wi-Fi, breakfast, and meeting spaces.

Dan De Riemer, an automobile dealer in Roswell, Ga., especially likes the one in Clermont, Fla.

“Every level of staff had a smile on,” he says. “Rare in today’s travel venues. Friendly, courteous, helpful, and welcoming.”

InterContinental Hotels Group scored in the mid-scale segment with its Holiday Inn andHoliday Inn Express brands.

“The new Holiday Inn hotels have made a noticeable effort to raise the bar by providing comfortable, clean spaces while maintaining a reasonable price for business travelers,” says Tom DeWaard, a district manager in Springfield, Mo. “I enjoy their business suites with large work stations, separate bedroom area, and kitchenettes. Their locations in Baton Rouge and Oklahoma City offer nice work out areas with free weights and a variety of machines.”

Marriott Courtyard Hotels Debuts First Hotel In The Bahamas In Nassau

Former Sunset Resort Nassau reopens as the Courtyard Nassau Downtown/Junkanoo Beach

Marriott International announced the July 1 opening of the first Courtyard hotel in Nassau, Bahamas: the 112-room Courtyard Nassau Downtown/Junkanoo Beach. Formerly the Sunset Resort Nassau, the waterfront resort on the palm-fringed sands of Junkanoo Beach is located just a short stroll away from the cruise port, famous Cable Beach, excellent shopping and dining options and top local businesses. The hotel is managed by Urgo Hotels & Resorts and owned by Sunset Equities Ltd.

“We’re excited to introduce the Courtyard Hotels brand to the Bahamas market,” said Donald J. Urgo, Jr., Senior Vice President, General Counsel for Urgo Hotels & Resorts. “The Courtyard Nassau’s location, just steps from Junkanoo Beach punctuates the resurgence and revitalization of downtown Nassau.”

The five-story Courtyard Nassau is stylishly furnished with a distinctly Bahamian vibe and color palette. The spacious 112 guest rooms and suites feature luxurious bedding, modern lounge furnishings and large work areas, accommodating the needs of travelers of all types. The hotel also boasts a resort-style pool and sun deck, a fully equipped state-of-the-art fitness center, The Bistro, the brand’s signature restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner, and a lobby bar and lounge for evening cocktails. Complimentary high-speed internet is available throughout the property. The refreshing lobby concept is contemporary, open and stylish, with colorful, bright and welcoming spaces where guests can check e-mail, gather informally with colleagues or simply relax.

“Courtyard Hotels has become a very popular brand in the Caribbean and is expanding rapidly,” said Tim Sheldon, President of the Caribbean & Latin America at Marriott International, Inc. “It offers excellent value in the mid-tier market that is currently underserved. The hotels adapt well to the lifestyle needs of both domestic and international guests.”

Courtyard Nassau’s choice location near top local businesses makes it an ideal stop for business travelers. Its beachfront setting is equally well-suited for family reunions and birthday parties, and the resort’s well-equipped boardroom hosts 15 for executive meetings.

Courtyard Nassau is located on West Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas. Bookings can be made now, online or by phone, for stays as of Friday, July 1. For more information or to book a stay, call the hotel directly at 800-406-7910 or toll-free at 1-888-236-2427 or visithttp://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/nascy-courtyard-nassau-downtown-junkanoo-beach/.

Courtyard by Marriott
Courtyard by Marriott features hotels with refreshing environments that help guests stay connected, productive and balanced while traveling.  Courtyard is constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of the guests. The latest guest room design offers hybrid spaces that accommodate all aspects of a guests’ stay. With more than 1,000 properties in more than 45 countries, Courtyard has the most locations of any brand in the Marriott International portfolio. For more information or reservations, visitwww.courtyard.com or call Courtyard Nassau Downtown/Junkanoo Beach directly at 800-406-7910 or toll-free at 1-888-236-2427. Courtyard hotels proudly participate in the award-winning Marriott Rewards^® frequent travel program that allows members to earn hotel points or airline miles for every dollar spent during each stay.

About Urgo Hotels & Resorts

Urgo Hotels is a Bethesda, Md.-based hotel company that develops, owns and/or operates 31 distinctive and unique hotels and resorts with an aggregate of more than 4,300 rooms in major markets and resorts in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. The company develops, builds, and operates for its own account, and provides third-party management and asset management services. For more information about Urgo Hotels and Resorts please visit www.urgohotels.com.

The Top 25 Timeshare Rental Resorts For 2016

Disney's Beach Club Villas

RedWeek.com, the leading timeshare rental and resale

 by-owner marketplace, has released its list of Top 25 Timeshare Rental Resorts for the ninth straight

 year. The Top 25 ranking is calculated using rental demand statistics from the site's more than 2.2

 million subscribers.

Marriott resorts typically dominate the list, and this year is no exception -- the brand claimed 11 of the

 25 total spots.  Disney is the second most sought-after brand – with their timeshare resorts claiming

 4 spots on the list, including the top position.  When it comes to top locations, the most sought-after

 resorts are in Florida, Hawaii, and the Caribbean -- primarily Aruba.

Surprises this year include the first-ever appearance of Wyndham's Bonnet Creek Resort in Lake

 Buena Vista, Florida.  That appearance, along with the resurgence in popularity at The Galleon

 Resort in Key West, Florida, bumped two popular resorts off the list altogether: Kaanapali Beach

 Club and Orange Lake Resort's West Village.

"The top 25 resorts offer fabulous rental vacation experiences for families that are difficult to match,"

 said Gary Prado, vice president of business development for RedWeek.com.  "It's the ultimate

 win-win: travelers get these amazing by-owner deals at top resorts, and timeshare owners get

 to rent their villas on RedWeek.com to cover their fees when they're unable to use them."

 The complete list of top 25 timeshare rental resorts below can also be found on RedWeek.com.

1. Disney's Beach Club Villas - Lake Buena Vista, Florida
2. Marriott's Aruba Surf Club - Palm Beach, Aruba
3. Harborside Resort at Atlantis - Paradise Island, Bahamas
4. Disney's BoardWalk Villas - Lake Buena Vista, Florida
5. Marriott's Maui Ocean Club - Lahaina, Hawaii
6. Marriott's Aruba Ocean Club - Palm Beach, Aruba
7. Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club - Kapolei, Hawaii
8. Marriott's Newport Coast Villas - Newport Coast, California
9. The Manhattan Club - New York City, New York
10. Costa Linda Beach Resort - Oranjestad, Aruba
11. Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge - Lake Buena Vista, Florida
12. Marriott's Grande Ocean - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
13. The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas - Lahaina, Hawaii
14. Marriott's Maui Ocean Club - Lahaina Villas - Lahaina, Hawaii
15. Playa Linda Beach Resort - Palm Beach, Aruba 
16. Disney's Old Key West Resort - Lake Buena Vista, Florida
17. Marriott's Ocean Pointe - Palm Beach Shores, Florida
18. Marriott's OceanWatch Villas at Grande Dunes - Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
19. Hilton Grand Vacations Club (HGVC) at Hawaiian Village - Honolulu, Hawaii
20. The Royal Sands - Cancun, Mexico   
21. Marriott's Waiohai Beach Club - Koloa, Hawaii
22. Marriott's Maui Ocean Club - Napili Villas - Lahaina, Hawaii
23. The Westin St. John - Virgin Grand Villas - St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
24. Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort - Lake Buena Vista, Florida
25. The Galleon Resort - Key West, Florida
26. 
    

These rankings reflect the preferences of RedWeek.com users; individual experiences with these

 resorts may differ from those reflected in these results. None of the resorts listed above are

 affiliated with RedWeek.com. All traveler ratings and reviews are available onRedWeek.com.

About RedWeek.com:

RedWeek.com is the largest online community and marketplace for timeshare rentals and resales,

 boasting more than 2.2 million subscribers and an A+ Better Business Bureau rating. At

 RedWeek.com, you can find reviews, ratings, prices, availability, and complete resort description

 for all timeshare resorts worldwide, making vacation selection easier. Timeshare owners can make

 use of a variety of easy online tools to rent or sell their timeshare, and participate in forums to 

discuss important owner issues.

NYC Marriott Hotels Announce Winter Flash Sale - Up To 20% Off Room Rates From January 15th-18th

New York City Marriott hotels have announced a limited-time Winter Sale offer from January 15 to January 18 that includes up to 20% off rates on stays occurring through April 30, 2016, on selected dates. Discounted rates are available at 8 participating hotels across several brands in New York City. This exclusive offer is only available by booking direct on Marriott.com where customers always receive Marriott’s best rate guarantee.

Participating hotels within the city’s portfolio of brands include up to 20% off these 8 hotels -

• New York Marriott Marquis

• The Algonquin Hotel Times Square

• New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge

• New York Marriott East Side

• JW Marriott Essex House New York

• Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel

• Renaissance New York Hotel 57

• New York Marriott Downtown

To book reservations, go to: http://deals.marriott.com/usa/ny/nyc-flash-sale-january-2016

Or, go to marriott.com and use Promotional Code: ADV

Advance purchase required and non-refundable. Terms and conditions apply.

Note: Reservations are not bookable until Friday, January 15, 2016 at 12:01AM EST

Reservations must be booked between January 15 – January 18, 2016 for hotel stays that occur through April 30, 2016.

Marriott Rewards Members Can Now Earn South African Airways (SAA) Voyager Miles

Members can earn miles for their stays and redeem points for miles through flexible program

 Marriott Rewards, Marriott International's award-winning loyalty program, announced

 that members can now earn South African Airways (SAA) Voyager miles for stays at

 more than 4,000 Marriott hotels across 16 distinctive global brands. As part of this

 new partnership, Marriott Rewards members can now also redeem points

 for SAA Voyager miles.

"Providing our members with even more flexibility to fuel their journey of exploration is part of our

 mission at Marriott Rewards," said Kevin McCarthy, Vice President of Loyalty Member Experience

 at Marriott International. "Through our partnership with South African Airways -- our 41st airline

 partner -- our 54 million members will have the freedom to enjoy the benefits of loyalty in ways

 that are most meaningful to them -- whether earning miles during their stays, or using points to

 get the miles they need to travel even sooner."

"We are excited to launch this partnership with Marriott Rewards," said Suretha Cruse, SAA

 Executive, Customer Loyalty. "Marriott Rewards includes hotels worldwide, most recently

 adding Protea Hotels, one of the leading African hotel groups, to the program. We are confident

 that this new partnership will really benefit our members."

As of today, Marriott Rewards members who designate South African Airways as their earning

 preference will receive:

• Two (2) SAA Voyager miles per $1 US spent on qualifying hotel charges at the following brands:
  • JW Marriott®
  • Autograph Collection® Hotels
  • Renaissance® Hotels
  • Marriott Hotels®
  • Marriott Vacation Club®

• Two (2) SAA Voyager miles per $1 US spent on room rate only at the following brands:
  • The Ritz-Carlton®
  • EDITION®
  • Gaylord Hotels®

• One (1) SAA Voyager mile per $1 US spent on room rate only at the following brands:
  • Protea Hotels®
  • Courtyard by Marriott®
  • AC Hotels by Marriott®
  • SpringHill Suites by Marriott®
  • Fairfield Inn & Suites®
  • Residence Inn by Marriott®
  • TownePlace Suites by Marriott®
  • Marriott Executive Apartments®
  • Moxy Hotels®
  • Delta Hotels ® (coming Q1 2016)

Members can also earn one (1) SAA Voyager mile per $1 US spent, with a maximum of 15,000

 points per event, on events with at least ten (10) room nights on a single night or catered-only

 events. Participating hotels worldwide include The Ritz-Carlton®, JW Marriott®, EDITION®,

 Gaylord Hotels®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®,

 Courtyard by Marriott®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, SpringHill Suites by Marriott®, Fairfield Inn

 & Suites®, and Marriott Vacation Club®.

Marriott Rewards members can also convert their Marriott Rewards points into SAA Voyager

 miles at the following exchange rates:

Marriott Rewards Points	SAA Voyager Miles
10,000	1,500
20,000	3,500
30,000	7,000
70,000	17,500
140,000	35,000

In addition to earning points for their stays, Marriott Rewards members enjoy extra benefits, such

 as free Wi-Fi and mobile check-in through the Marriott Mobile app, as well as special deals only 

available when booking direct on a Marriott channel.

About Marriott Rewards

Marriott Rewards is Marriott International's award-winning loyalty program spanning 16 brands and

 over 4,000 properties worldwide. Marriott Rewards is free to join and has no blackout dates and

 members can earn and redeem points at Marriott International properties around the world and

 at Marriott Rewards exclusive luxury partner The Ritz-Carlton®.  Members can also redeem

 points for frequent flyer miles, cruises, car rentals, merchandise and more. By making rewards

 accessible with a modern, easy approach, Marriott Rewards continues to be a leader in the

 industry. Marriott Rewards has won the Freddie Award for "Best Hotel Rewards Program in the

 Americas" for the last eight years and is a two-time winner of the Frequent Travel Award for

 "Best Hotel Rewards Program." In addition, the program has been named best hotel rewards

 program by the readers of U.S. News & World Report, About.com, Business Traveler, Global

 Traveler, Executive Travel and BusinessWeek magazines. To enroll and for more information about

 Marriott Rewards, guests can visitMarriottRewards.com.

About SAA Voyager

South African Airways (SAA) Voyager is a loyalty program owned by SAA (SOC) Limited and

 serves as the frequent flyer program for: SAA; SA Express (SOC) Limited; and Airlink Proprietary

 Limited. Mango (SOC) Limited, SAA's wholly owned low cost carrier, is a high customer value

 ranked redemption partner of the program. Launched during 1994, the program offers its more

 than 2.5 million members earning and spending of Miles (the program's reward currency) from

 55 program partners. The program boasts more than 35 airline partnerships, including the Star

 Alliance global network which gives members access to more than 1,300 destinations in 190

 countries. The evolution of SAA Voyager has seen the program expanding from being a traditional

 frequent flyer program, by diversifying its offering to include more than 20 non-airline partners in

 categories ranging from travel-related to lifestyle, retail, property, and financial services; delivering

 on its promise to become forever part of their members' journeys.  SAA Voyager is dedicated to

 upholding the same high standards of customer service excellence today and in the future, as it

 has for decades. SAA Voyager program partners gain access to a rich partner network and one

 of the biggest loyalty databases on the continent, which has proven to translate to increased

 revenues and enhanced customer retention. To enroll and for more information about SAA

 Voyager, please visit FlySAA.com.