Hi All,
In light of the Starwood and Marriott announcement, please note that our properties should not be posting any original content or commenting on the Starwood/Marriott merge on property specific social media channels as a protection against co-marketing during the merger process. It is very important to note that Starwood and Marriott remain two separate companies and will continue to function as such until further notice.
It is acceptable for a hotel to retweet or repost as long as they are reposting from a Starwood official channel, if they are inclined to do so.
Please advise social media champions / agencies / hotel teams accordingly.
In addition, we have shared with many of you the appropriate responses for external stakeholders, here it is again for the wider group copied here:
Media response:
We’re excited to join together with Marriott International to create the world’s largest hotel company. The combined company will have an expansive global footprint with 30 brands and more than 5,500 hotels in over 100 countries. Together with Marriott, our Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) members and customers will benefit from the strength of the combined loyalty programs as we work to bring them the very best of SPG and Marriott Rewards, two of the most rewarding loyalty programs in our industry.
For customer enquiry:
We’re excited to join together with Marriott International to create the world’s largest hotel company. You certainly have a lot to look forward to with even more choices in even more places, giving you access to 1.1 million rooms across 5,500 hotels in more than 100 countries. You will also benefit from the strength of the combined loyalty programs, and a larger worldwide sales force. As we look to bring together the very best of Starwood and Marriott, we are confident we will create the premier company in our industry. Our customers are at the core of everything we do, and that will not change. For now, we remain two separate companies and there is no change to your RFP bid or your existing reservations. In the coming months, as we have more to share, you’ll continue to be among the first to hear. In the meantime, we remain at your service wherever you need us.
For guest enquiry:
We’re excited to join together with Marriott International to create the world’s largest hotel company. For our Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) members, this will mean even more choices in even more places, giving you access to 1.1 million rooms across 5,500 hotels in more than 100 countries. We will work to bring you the very best of SPG and Marriott Rewards, two of the most rewarding loyalty programs in our industry. Our members are at the core of everything we do, and that will not change.
For now, we remain separate, and there is no change to your SPG program status, your Starpoints or your existing reservations. You will continue to earn Starpoints and elite stay/night credit for your stays, and bonus Starpoints for any promotions in which are you are participating. There is no change to how you manage your SPG account or book reservations. We remain at your service whenever you need us.