The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) applauded the announcement by Marriott International, that it will…
The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) applauded the announcement by Marriott International, that it will launch its Look No Further SM Best Rate Guarantee to ensure customers receive the best available room rate when booking through any Marriott reservations channel, including travel agents.
Marriott`s Look No Further SM Best Rate Guarantee is a good first step in rate integrity for travel agents, said Richard M. Copland, CTC, ASTA president and CEO.
Marriott will launch its Look No Further SM Best Rate Guarantee on Jan. 1, 2004, ensuring that that all customers have equal access to the best available room rates. This is a distinction between Marriott and other major lodging companies, which offer Internet-only guarantees and/or Web-only rates. These rates create a disadvantage for travelers who prefer to book through traditional channels, such as travel agents.
If a customer books through Marriott and then finds a lower publicly available rate within 24 hours for the same hotel, room type and dates anywhere on an Internet travel site, through a travel agency, travel management company or even Marriott, the hotel will match the lower rate and give an additional 25 percent off.
Marriott research shows that travelers spend as much as half a day shopping to find the best room rates, and that the majority of travelers do not make hotel reservations on the Internet.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
