Softening Economy Threatens Local Hotel Business; Gaithersburg Marriott Focuses on...

Softening Economy Threatens Local Hotel Business; Gaithersburg Marriott Focuses on Government Market

GAITHERSBURG, Md.--(Business Wire)--
With travel industry representatives calling this the worst
downturn in travel since 9/11, when revenues were off by more than $10
billion (Federal Times, 6/11/2008), the Gaithersburg Marriott
Washingtonian Center has developed some programs unique to Montgomery
County to help the corporation hold onto its approximately $200
million in government business overall and its title of "Preferred
Choice" for government travelers.

With soaring gas prices and airlines adding an expanding number of
surcharges, travel budgets are being stretched thin, including in the
federal government. The Montgomery County Convention and Visitors
Bureau (CVB) says that visitors spent a total of $1,661.4 million in
the county in 2006, but those figures are projected to drop. In FY
2008, the CVB says government business generated 25 percent of their
total bookings, down from 41 percent during FY 2007.

To help stretch their travel dollar, government employees staying
at the Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center will now receive
complimentary high speed internet access and full breakfasts, for an
average cost savings of $30 per night. The hotel will also extend
government per diem rates to all federal travelers. In addition, in an
effort to help government travelers save time when booking
reservations, Marriott has also developed a dedicated government
travel website www.marriott.com/gov that shows per diem availability
at all Marriott properties.

This program grew out of Marriott's specially trained service team
whose members complete a program geared to understanding the unique
needs and restrictions of the federal government traveler. Employees
completing the program are designated Certified Government Sales
Professionals. The members of these teams must understand the
regulations put in place by the General Services Administration (GSA),
the government agency that develops travel guidelines for government
employees.

"These federal travelers must follow very strict guidelines when
arranging for groups at hotels and individual travelers must adhere to
per diem rates set by GSA," says Jason Blevins, Marriott area account
executive.

"Marriott sales associates must understand how to operate within
these guidelines and how to make the sales process as simple as
possible for clients," explains Matt Felix, general manager,
Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center. "We are continuing to work
to come up with unique solutions to the challenges resulting from the
changing economy."

Marriott
by
Remey Communications
Sandra Remey, 301-929-3554
Cell: 301-467-9024

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