For the 8th Consecutive Year, Protea Hotels by Marriott Named Coolest Hotel Brand in South Africa

The prestigious Generation Next Survey is an industry benchmark for brands in South Africa

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, June 25, 2018/ -- In an announcement highlighting the brand’s appeal in the South African market, Marriott International (NASDAQ: MAR) (www.Marriott.com) today announced that Protea Hotels by Marriott® (www.ProteaHotels.com), has been named the country’s Coolest Hotel Brand in the Sunday Times Generation Next Survey 2018. This is the 8th time in a row that the brand has won this coveted award, indicating a deep understanding of a rapidly evolving marketplace.

Neal Jones, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International, emphasizes the importance of being perceived as “cool”. “When your market is constantly adapting and your guests evolving in their preferences, it’s essential to tailor your brand accordingly,” he notes. “We operate in a very competitive marketplace and relish the challenge of staying ahead. Our forever-young market, including the next generation, contains a vital segment of progressive individualists and forward-thinking travelers. The prestigious Generation Next Survey is an industry benchmark for brands in South Africa and we are delighted to be featured year on year amongst those who are getting it right.”

The hotel brand prides itself with an associate complement that is representative of the younger generation, a feature that contributes to successful service delivery to this market.

“Our focus across the brand is on delivering a slick and seamless guest experience that’s personalised and mindful of individual preferences,” added Danny Bryer, Area Director for Sales & Marketing, Protea Hotels by Marriott. “Our local expression of this combined with the additional strength of being part of the Marriott International’s global brand portfolio, enables us to roll out global best-practices efficiently. We know what travelers want because we’re always a step ahead, anticipating customer needs. We recognize that we must be proactive and consistent in everything we do in order to maintain the confidence of the South African market year after year. It’s not about titles or awards, so much as providing top-class products and services to our customers,” he concludes.

Now in its 13th year, Generation Next polls the opinions of 5,675 of South Africa’s youth (ages 8 to 22) in urban and peri-urban environments in six provinces. The lifestyle and consumer behaviour questionnaire is boosted by a further 4,622 face-to-face interviews.

Connect with Protea Hotels by Marriott on twitter and Instagram @ProteaHotels, and on Facebook.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Marriott International, Inc..

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Media contact:
Anjali Mehra
Anjali.mehra@marriott.com
+971565396555

About Protea Hotels by Marriott

Protea Hotels by Marriott® (www.ProteaHotels.com) (NASDAQ: MAR) is the leading hospitality brand in Africa and it is one of the most widely recognized brands on the continent with over 90 hotels throughout South Africa and seven other African countries, including Zambia, Nigeria, Namibia, Ghana and Uganda amongst others. Protea Hotels by Marriott® is ideal for both business and leisure travellers by offering properties in primary and secondary business centres and desirable leisure destinations.  Each hotel offers modern facilities, proactive and friendly service and consistent amenities such as full service restaurants, meeting spaces, complimentary Wi-Fi, and well-appointed rooms, ensuring global standards for a high quality, relaxed and successful stay. Protea Hotels by Marriott® is the winner of 8 Coolest Hotel Group awards in the Sunday Times Generation Next surveys, the winner of the Ask Africa South African Customer Service Award 2013 and Icon Brand 2015, and the winner of the Hotels category in the Ask Afrika 2015/2016 Youth Brands Survey.  The hotel group was bought by Marriott International in April 2014 and forms part of Marriott’s global brand portfolio made up of 30 leading brands that operate more than 6,000 hotels in 122 countries. Protea Hotels by Marriott® is proud to participate in the industry’s award-winning loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®. Members can now link accounts with Starwood Preferred Guest® at members.marriott.com for instant elite status matching and unlimited points transfer. For more information, visit ProteaHotels.com.

About Marriott International:

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) (www.Marriott.com) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 6,500 properties in 30 leading hotel brands spanning 127 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company also operates award-winning loyalty programs: Marriott Rewards®, which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest®. For more information, please visit our website at www.Marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.MarriottNewsCenter.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/marriottinternational) and @MarriottIntl on Twitter (https://twitter.com/MarriottIntl) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/marriottintl).

SOURCE
Marriott International, Inc.