Why Marriott?

Marriott's has diligently evaluated various international locations in the global market place for hotel accommodations and have strategically entered locations with a high potential for growth in leisure and business travel. Marriott's key moves into the growing Chinese and Indian market, coupled with some "green" initiatives and partnerships in other fast growing markets in Latin and South America prove that Marriott intends to continue to grow where their analysis and evaluation tells them there is opportunity. However, Marriott's opportunity is not just focused on the bottom line. Their growth targets are geared toward "serving people first" and moving into markets where there is opportunity to service at levels previously unmet.

Marriott's customer service and their employee benefits have generated loyalty from employees and customers alike. The ability to provide a workplace with opportunities for employees both domestically and internationally provide the platform for a high level of customer service and employee work ethic and attitude. This directly impacts customer satisfaction as employees cater to the needs of individual customers and on a customer-by-customer basis.

Overall, the recent strategic moves and the announced plans to move into China and India prove that Marriott is a fast mover into markets where opportunity to serve exists. The increasing number of travelers in the global marketplace where Marriott is growing will reap benefits on this company for years-to-come so long as Marriott and their staff cater to the needs of those travelers.

As the economy recovers from the most recent downturn, expect the value of Marriott International to grow. This is a proven company and one that "holds on" to customers once they have them inside their doors.

In retrospect, six months ago would have been an opportune time to invest in Marriott International. Today, even with the stock price climbing over $40/share of common stock, Marriott is a solid investment. I would expect to continue to see the price increase and reach somewhere around $45/share over the next year, providing the economy continues to rebound and the markets in China and India sustain their current status.

Final Stock Update

December '02: Marriott Closed the day at $40.52, the highest the stock has reached since the economic downturn. Marriott's made some sound strategic moves into growing markets and it has impacted the recent stock performance. Hopefully, these increases are signs of things to come and are evident of an improving economy and travel industry.

The most interesting information I learned related to Marriott International is related to the company's efforts to improve humanity throughout the U.S. and the world. Of course, all company's try to show humanitarian efforts to gain public attention and will provide financial resources to some worldly causes. Marriott in my opinion has gone above and beyond simply showing financial support for humanitarian efforts. Don't get me wrong here, the financial support is imperative to many causes, but providing human capital for relief efforts is equally important.

Volunteer Marriott employees have assisted with Habitat for Humanity in building thousands of homes in 15 different countries. The piece that really hits home with me though is the efforts of Marriott in Doha, Qatar. My family being heavily involved in international adoption efforts hold orphans very dear to our heart and seek ways to serve and help these children that seem to have little or no hope. Therefore the efforts of the Doha Marriott Hotel provide a high level of goodwill to me and my family. Employees at this Hotel have worked with orphans in Qatar to provide life experiences as well as needed items. They have hosted Orphans to learn how to cook with the Hotel's Chefs and even the housekeeping staff provide needed items to the children in the orphanage. Their goal - A Spirit to Serve - does not discriminate from even the least of these.

Follow Bill Marriott's Blog

For up to the date information on Marriott and Marriott's ongoing efforts, follow chairman and CEO, JW Marriott, Jr., (Bill)'s company blog.

Since this course is nearly over and blogs my blogs on the company are running short, consider following the chairman's blog if you're interested in following the global progress of Marriott. Of course you will primarily see the good of the company posted in this blog, the chairman and CEO give a lot of insight on the company's domestic and international strategy and the reasons for such strategy, as well as the target markets. This is the site for some of the most up-to-date happenings and they come from directly from Mr. Marriott himself.

JW Marriott, Jr.

New Addition in France

December 2, 2010: Marriott International has announced an addition to the luxury JW Marriott Hotels and Resorts line. The luxurious Palais Stephanie Hotel on the famous La Croisette in Cannes will be re-branded a JW Marriott in early 2011.

Cannes is a world renowned location for luxury and the original site of the International Film Festival from 1946 through the mid 1980s. The hotel is located at the original site of the Film Festival and this marks one more notch in Marriott's expansion of their key line of luxury hotels and resorts in Europe. Not to mention a key location for high-class travelers in France.

For more on the story, follow the link: JW = Cote d' Azur

More in store for 2011 and beyond?

Currently more than 80% of Marriott's 3,500 hotels are located in the U.S. However, this percentage is expected to drop to near 50% over the next ten years as Marriott opens more hotels on international soils. Marriott will increase the number of hotels in China and India alone by nearly 150 locations within the next five years.

Why so much growth outside of the U.S.? Chairman and CEO, J.W. Marriott Jr., had this to day. "those middle-class economies are growing very fast," speaking of India and China. He added, "We're seeing huge numbers of muddle-class in India and China and they're starting to travel."

Another reason for increase percentage of growth outside of the U.S., could be related to stricter international travel rules imposed by the U.S. to combat terrorist threats. Additionally, says J.W. Marriott, Jr., "the hospitality industry lacks allies in Washington sensitive to the impact of immigration restrictions and security measures on the tourism industry." Increased international travel by U.S> residents and lack of travel and expected travel into the U.S> has forced Marriott to look past U.S. sands for continuing growth.

Investory Relations - Stock on the Move

December 2010 looks promising to Marriott shareholders. Stock price has reached $40.00/share which is the highest it has been in some time and up $0.79 from Tuesday's close at $3.21.