WASHINGTON, D.C.—Marriott International Inc. announced that all of the company’s lodging brands in the United States and Canada will become 100 percent smoke free beginning in September 2006. This represents the lodging industry’s largest move to a nonsmoking environment, with more than 2,300 hotels and corporate apartments and nearly 400,000 guest rooms under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn, TownePlace Suites and Marriott ExecuStay brands.
“Creating a smoke-free environment demonstrates a new level of service and care for our guests and associates,” says J.W. Marriott, Jr., chairman and c.e.o. of Marriott International. “Our family of brands is united on this important health issue and we anticipate very positive customer feedback.”
The new policy includes all guestrooms, restaurants, lounges, meeting rooms, public space and employee work areas. Currently more than 90 percent of Marriott guestrooms are already nonsmoking and smoking is prohibited in many public spaces due to local laws. Demand for nonsmoking rooms continues to rise with new information from the Surgeon General on the hazards of secondary smoke.
