Marriott International introduced a new Web site for Marriott Rewards members to communicate “without interference from sponsors trying to sell them something,” according to a spokesman. The site will be “lightly moderated” and allow “3.5 million” elite members to “share their stories and get authentic, honest, information from other frequent travelers just like them.”
Maybe Marriott will have the same success with this site as it did with Bill Marriott's blog. According to the company, about $4 million in bookings have come from blog, which is as authentic as Bill's dictation. When Bill wants to "do a blog," a 24 year-old assistant takes it all down and types it all in. Bill admitted he doesn’t know how to type.
Okay, Bill’s blog has his ideas and maybe that's authentic enough. Now Marriott's customers can let us know if they think so.
Hyatt Corp., also, recently launched a Web site, called Yatt’It
, where road warriors or frequent leisure travelers can post comments, tips and communicate with each other about Hyatt properties, fun cities to visit and fun activities to do in those cities.