Northstar

18 | www.travelweekly-asia.com HOSPITALITY Marriott International has more than 4,100 properties in 79 countries and territories. In Asia Pacific, the hotel network covers some 11 countries and regions. Natalie Chen speaks to Simon Cooper, president and managing director Asia Pacific, Marriott International. What are the key takeaways about building up the Marriott footprint in Asia and the world? From a Marriott perspective we expect to more than double our distribution as hotel projects in the current pipeline open. Within this portfolio, China is a very important part of this expansion. If we shift to a global perspective, we aim to position Marriott as the "World's Favourite Travel Company". We continue to provide rewarding travel experiences to our guests by focusing on mobility and technology. For example we offer mobile check-in, free Wi-Fi and, here in Asia, we'll soon be launching "meetingsimagined" for our MICE customers. Why is the Marriott brand exciting in this century? As our iconic flagship brand, Marriott Hotels has 18 properties with 7,919 rooms in the China market. China is the first market in Asia Pacific region where we will launch our innovative F&B concept - Goji Kitchen & Bar. It is a flexible micro-concept that incorporates the latest design and technology to enable the bar to change its walls and partitions and alter not just the menu but also the look and feel of the venue to suit different dining needs and moods. When it comes to loyalty, Marriott Rewards and the 'Members Get More' campaign is our focus. A good example is the mobile app and how it gives Rewards members more control of their travel experience. We're also the first company in the industry to partner with DaoDao, the official Chinese website of TripAdvisor, to give Chinese travellers access to new and innovative search capabilities through WeChat. What is your life philosophy in work? I'm young at heart. I keep an open mind to new concepts and new experiences and most importantly I keep a smile on my face. The hospitality industry, in fact the entire world, is evolving at a pace that we have not imagined before. As a result we are going to see opportunities and threats that occur faster and faster, and we're all going to need to be able to smile as we do. "Love what you do" is my personal motto and if you are not having fun – move on! How do you attract and retain millennials in your company? We use social media such as Facebook and LinkedIn to engage with our candidates, and last year launched Mobile Apply, allowing candidates to search and apply for nearby jobs using their mobile devices. About 28% of our job seekers are searching and applying for jobs with us through mobile, and the number is on the rise. Our talent management programmes have helped us maintain strong associate engagement and has earned us numerous national as well as regional and global best employer recognition. These awards help us attract and retain the best talent. Moreover, we also contribute lots of effort to conduct a series of CSR programmes, like cooperation with Yao Foundation in China, Environment Protection Programme in Thailand, etc. which is not only supporting Marriott International's preferences in local markets, but also makes our associates be proud to work for a company that embraces such initiatives. Caption ??? MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL'S SIMON COOPER: THE MAN WITH A SMILE ON HIS FACE What are the further developments for Marriott in Asia? The opportunities in the travel industry across Asia and in China are significant. The region as a whole will experience some 5% growth while select high growth markets could secure 7% or more. These are remarkable compared with other continents and the momentum is expected to continue the next few years. Marriott International is going to introduce a new brand to the China market, EDITION Hotels. EDITION is conceived by Ian Schrager in a partnership with Marriott International. Look out for the first opening in Sanya in 2016, in Gurgaon (India) and Bangkok in 2017. Our Bvlgari brand will also be coming to China within the next two years with projects in Beijing and Shanghai. What do you think is important in establishing a superior hotel brand? Increasingly consumers have very specific requirements that they are looking for from brands, and they are not only looking at the hotel facilities, but everything that goes with the travel experience, including personalised services, F&B outlets, technology capabilities. This is why we're working hard to make sure Marriott International takes the lead in this area. Love what you do" is my personal motto and if you are not having fun – move on! Simon Cooper...still smiling.

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