“In four years, 60% of our business will be millennials,” Mr. Marriott is quoted as saying, “All of us old folks are moving on.” And, in addition, Marriott wants his hotels to be “cool” and is leading his company that way with its new Moxy brand (developed in conjunction with boutique hotel innovator Ian Schrager) and its new Edition hotel brand that currently has properties in London and Istanbul. According to the article, Edition hotels currently generate 50% of their revenues from the food & beverage area. So, it looks like the food & beverage experience and all that goes into that experience such as a great, well-thought out tabletop could play an even more prominent role in the future of the hotel guest experience.
Going forward, tabletop marketers will need to think and understand what role their companies’ products can play in helping hotels like Marriott and others positively influence the millennial guest experience. Additionally, with hotels looking to upgrade and enhance the food & beverage experience for their guests ….local restaurants that compete for that guest dining out dollar will also have to continue to up their game in all areas – including tabletop – to stay competitive in the guest experience arena.
All this bodes especially well for the paying guests…..better food and beverage……a more well thought out tabletop that contributes to a better dining experience…..and, finally, a better overall level of guest satisfaction.
As we continue to say….it really is always about the guest experience.
Looks like Marriott agrees.
To read the entire WSJ article by author Alexandra Wolfe, go here:
http://online.wsj.com/articles/bill-marriott-where-hotels-are-going-1405716717?mod=WSJ_hp_EditorsPicks
