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Marriott acquires Postcard Cabins amid greater outdoor travel play

Dec. 12, 2024
3 min read
Postcard Cabins
Marriott acquires Postcard Cabins amid greater outdoor travel play
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Pack your plaid flannels: The world's largest hotel company is heading to the great outdoors.

Marriott International announced two major pushes into the outdoor travel space Thursday morning. The hotel giant plans to acquire the Postcard Cabins brand — formerly known as Getaway Outposts — in a deal that will bring a national network of cozy cabins into the Marriott portfolio. Marriott also announced a long-term agreement to bring the smaller collection of Trailborn boutique hotels into the company system.

"Marriott has long been committed to offering incredible travel experiences for every trip purpose," Leeny Oberg, Marriott's chief financial officer and executive vice president of development, said in a statement. "As guests are increasingly interested in nature-immersive travel, we are excited to build on the incredible breadth of our portfolio and welcome the Postcard Cabins and Trailborn portfolios to Marriott Bonvoy as we deliver more accommodations and experiences in awe-inspiring destinations."

Postcard Cabins
Postcard Cabins. MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL

The addition of Postcard Cabins and Trailborn to the Marriott orbit comes at a time when the company's competitors have also expanded into the outdoor travel space. Hilton launched a partnership earlier this year with AutoCamp; additionally, Hyatt expanded into glamping this year thanks to Under Canvas properties listed on the hotel company's newly acquired Mr & Mrs Smith booking platform.

Marriott's new addition brings tiny homes, cabins and hotels near national parks, deserts, ski areas and shorelines to the company's mix. Each of the 29 Postcard Cabins locations is within a two-hour drive of a major metropolitan area, and all are dog-friendly and feature private bathrooms and kitchens. Trailborn's mix of boutique hotels is near Rocky Mountain National Park, the Grand Canyon and Highlands, North Carolina. Additional properties are slated to open in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, and Mendocino, California.

Trailborn. MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL

Both brands are slated to join Marriott's planned outdoor-focused collection and will be integrated into Marriott booking systems — like the company website and the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app — next year. Details on any further linkage to the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program aren't public yet, but a company spokesperson said further details for travelers will be coming soon.

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"Whether you're looking for bespoke lodging near natural wonders, an elevated camping experience, or off-the-beaten-path excursions in nature, our planned outdoor-focused collection is expected to offer a broad array of options for seasoned adventurers and first-time explorers," Oberg added.

Related reading:

Featured image by POSTCARD CABINS/MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Why We Chose It

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  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.