money Marriott exec shares her top travel hack: 'A really, really, good charger'
The executive tasked with meeting travelers’ needs at all Marriott hotels recently revealed her top travel tip with Yahoo Finance in Davos, Switzerland.
“Best travel hack I'd have to say is get yourself a really, really good charger that can take all different types of electronic equipment,” said Stephanie Linnartz, Marriott International’s chief commercial officer. “And bring that around the world.”
To meet the other travel needs of her hotel guests, Linnartz is turning to technology and sustainability at Marriott’s 30 brands across 145 countries that range from high-end luxury properties like the Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis to more affordable ones such as Courtyard and Moxy.
Marriott has “invested a lot” in its mobile and mobile app that allows guests to book a room or request a late check-out with ease and digital efficiency, she said. But a traditional hospitality agent will always be accessible in the lobby, too.
“We want to make sure that guests have a choice. Some people...actually want to speak to a human being at the front desk,” she said. “So, I think it's really critical as we think about how to use technology to enhance the guest experience, we also give them choices and different ways to interact with us.”
‘Doing the right thing’
Sustainability is also a big consideration for Marriott’s guests, so the company is responding, Linnartz said.
For instance, Marriott last year got rid of all single-use, travel-sized plastic bottles for shampoo and conditioner and moved to larger, recyclable ones. When multiplied globally, the change eliminated 500 million tiny bottles, or close to 2 million pounds of plastic, that would ultimately wind up in a landfill, she said.
“If people want to bring their own stuff, that's fine,” Linnartz said. “But if they're going to be using our shampoo, our conditioners, our amenities, we want to make sure that they're as environmentally sustainable as possible.”
Measures like reducing water usage in hotel washing machines, installing water-saving valves in toilets, and minimizing food waste all reduce the company’s environmental footprint while boosting the bottom line.
“I think there's a business case to be made in terms of reducing costs, but I think there's a top-line business case, too,” she said, “because more than 60% of consumers will either boycott a brand or choose a brand because they're doing the right thing.”
Stephanie is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. She can be reached at stephanie.asymkos@yahoofinance.com. Follow her on Twitter @SJAsymkos.
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