SAN JUAN, P.R.—As of February 1, 2007, the San Juan Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino is officially a nonsmoking hotel and the first in Puerto Rico to institute a no smoking policy. The smoking ban will be instituted throughout the entire hotel, including the rooms, balconies, lobby, bar and restaurants, with the hotel’s Stellaris Casino following suit on March 1, 2007.
In October 2006, Marriott instituted its Smoke-Free Hotel Environment strategy, representing the industry’s largest move to a nonsmoking environment. It encompassed all of the company’s lodging brands in the United States and Canada, and was optional for Marriott’s international properties. The San Juan Marriott has chosen to follow the corporate model.
“A lot of factors play in to making this decision,” says Hans-Georg Rohrbein, general manager. “It’s a combination of travelers becoming more health conscious and demanding smoke-free rooms, Marriott’s success with the institution of the program in the U.S. and Canada, and the detrimental effects that smoking can have on hotel rooms. We just completed $35 million worth of renovations in 2006, and a second phase is planned for later this year. Combining these major renovations and upgrades with a no smoking policy will allow us to maintain the quality product our guests enjoy.”
