BETHESDA, Md.—Marriott International, Inc. has announced it will launch Apple Pay payment service. This represents the latest step in Marriott’s creation of a complete mobile-powered travel experience. The phased introduction this summer in the U.S. will include brands in popular locations, such as The Ritz-Carlton, EDITION, Renaissance Hotels, and Marriott Hotels.
Guests using Apple Pay at check-in will bring their iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, or soon, Apple Watch, near the contactless reader at the front desk. When their device responds with a subtle vibration and beep, the payment information has been securely captured. There will be no need to provide a credit card upon check-in.
“Approximately 75 percent of our guests travel with one or more mobile devices, and it is even higher among 25-35 year olds — a group that will make up a much larger proportion of our guests over the next three years,” said George Corbin, senior vice president, Marriott Digital. “Millions of customers already use Marriott Mobile to quickly book a hotel, check-in, or check out. Now, Apple Pay can make it virtually effortless.”
In 2013, Marriott began launching mobile check-in and check-out on its smartphone app. With the app, guests can now access these services at 4,000 hotels worldwide, in addition to finding and booking a hotel stay and accessing Marriott Rewards account information. At select Marriott Hotels, guests have been testing an app for service requests, enabling them to chat in real time with hotel staff to make requests, such as extra towels, valet service, and dinner reservations.
Marriott will launch an app for the Apple Watch, upon availability. With the Apple Watch app, Marriott Rewards members will be able to use it to check-in in advance, receive prior notification when their room is ready, and checkout at nearly 4,000 hotels globally.
Marriott Rewards members who also carry the loyalty program’s co-branded credit card can load it into Apple Pay and designate it as their primary card, earning Marriott Rewards points every time they use Apple Pay at thousands of retailers.
