Marriott, Schrager plan boutique hotels: report

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Hotel group Marriott International Inc. (MAR.N) is set to announce a deal on Thursday with entrepreneur Ian Schrager to develop a boutique hotel chain, The Wall Street Journal reported in its online edition.

Under the deal, Schrager will focus on designing, marketing and branding the hotels, while Marriott will operate them under long-term management contracts, gaining a presence in the boutique segment, according to the report.

Neither Marriott not the Ian Schrager Company were immediately available to comment.