Executive Summary

• The Fung Global Retail & Technology team attended Marriott’s 2017 Security Analyst Meeting in New York City today.
• Marriott, on the heels of its acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts last September, outlined its plans to open an additional 285,000–300,000 rooms through 2019, bringing its total to nearly 1.5 million rooms.
• Expanding on the music, dining and sporting experiences already offered to elite Marriott and Starwood loyalty program members, the company announced an investment in PlacePass, a provider of travel technology solutions offering travelers a search platform for more than 100,000 authentic local experiences in 800 destinations worldwide.
• Marriott is also reconfiguring its Element Hotels and Aloft Hotels to offer Gen Z and extended-stay travelers communal gathering and work spaces, as well as a new food and beverage program that emphasizes healthy ingredients.