Marriott launches online travel management program for SMEs

Marriott International has launched an online booking travel program, Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy, which has been designed as a direct channel for small to medium-sized businesses. The program combines an expanded booking experience with benefits and rewards available exclusively through Marriott Bonvoy’s travel program and brand portfolio.

Currently available to small to medium businesses based in the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America, the program will be rolled out in more regions.

The program is powered by Spotnana, a travel-as-a-service platform evolving the infrastructure of the travel sector.

Most business travelers (75%) at small and medium-sized businesses in the U.S., the U.K., Canada and Mexico said they were frustrated with their travel booking channels, a recent survey commissioned by Marriott Bonvoy and conducted by Wakefield Research has revealed. As much as 56% of business travelers said travel booking platforms are not user friendly, while 27% expressed disappointment with the platforms’ lack of integration with their travel expense programs.

Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy combines the benefits of Marriott Bonvoy with other features to book and manage business travel.

Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy enables companies to book hotels from Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio at discounted rates, as well as flights, trains and rental cars in a single, multilingual tool.

Other features of the program include:

  • Discounted Marriott Bonvoy rates and awards: Businesses joining Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy will be eligible to select a discount at participating hotels around the world. They can also earn points for future stays at hotels and room upgrades. Participating businesses can receive Marriott Bonvoy Elite status awards, which can be gifted to employees.
  • Shopping benefits: The booking tool aims to be a one-stop shop for business travelers to compare, book, change and manage hotel, flight, train and car rental reservations in one platform.
  • Customized travel policies: Travel managers can control their companies’ travel policies and ensure compliance with spending limits.
  • Global travel policy and safety monitoring: The travel insights tool allows managers to track the safety and wellbeing of traveling employees. Interactive maps can help managers stay informed of potential disruptions and reduce risks.
  • Cost management tools: Travelers can integrate the program with their current expense management platforms and make payments with virtual credit card. Expense reports can also be automated, based on set policies, helping managers approve and reconcile expenses.
  • Access to Marriott Bonvoy benefits: Employees availing the program can enjoy full access to Marriott Bonvoy benefits, including member rates, complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, late checkout, mobile check-in, free in-room WiFi, mobile keys and more. Members can also earn points at participating hotels around the world and redeem points or a combination of points and cash to enjoy free stays.

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