Marriott joins the work-from-hotel trend with 3 packages
The world's largest hotel chain has become the latest to announce a formalized offering for work-from-hotel packages, which have become this year's biggest trend due to the coronavirus.
Hyatt was the first major chain to make a splash in this space with its Work From Hyatt program. After a very successful initial offering, it expanded the offerings to include many more resorts and destinations.
Related: Ready to work from a beautiful hotel? These properties let you do it
Now, Marriott is betting that its members will be excited to book similar work-from-hotel packages as we move toward winter and work-from-home fatigue takes hold. According to the chain, 42% of people in a survey said they'd consider booking a work-from-hotel package for any number of reasons, ranging from insufficient Wi-Fi at home to claustrophobia as a result of working in a cramped, subpar workspace each day.
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Marriott's aiming to remedy some of that fatigue -- and attract guests back to its properties by offering three distinct work-from-hotel packages: Day Pass, Stay Pass and Play Pass. Let's take a look at each to see if any are right for you.
Day Pass
Designed for anyone who wants a change of office location that's still close to home, the Day Pass package offers use of a hotel room for the day, with a 6 a.m. check-in time and 6 p.m. checkout. Guests will receive enhanced Wi-Fi, access to food, drinks and business services including printing, fax and scanning equipment if the hotel has those amenities.
Bonvoy members will earn points on eligible purchases while on the property and will get a welcome amenity of healthy snacks, along with discounts at the gift shop. Platinum Elite members and above will have lounge access if that's available at the property.
Right now, Day Pass packages can be booked in the following cities: Atlanta, Phoenix, Dallas, New York, Toronto, London, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong. According to Marriott, Day Pass will soon be available in more cities in Europe, the Middle East and Latin America.
Rates vary depending on the city, but you can book Day Pass packages at hotels like The Westin Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta and the JW Marriott Houston by the Galleria for $99 per day.
Stay Pass
The next tier of Marriott's work-from-hotel packages combines overnight stays with all the same aspects of its Day Pass remote-office set up.
Guests will receive the same 6 a.m. check-in and 6 p.m. checkout times and other perks listed above, but you'll get to lay your head in a hotel bed after your workday -- and sometimes a hotel bed is all one needs to feel refreshed. With the overnight stay component, you'll have more time to use hotel amenities like the pool or gym, and you'll also get a $10 food-and-beverage credit as well as complimentary evening cocktails and breakfast in the morning at participating properties. If an individual hotel opts out of providing the complimentary breakfast, elite members who qualify will still be entitled to that perk.
Members of the Bonvoy loyalty program will earn Elite night credits for stays as well as points for eligible purchases, and Platinum Elite members and above will have access to club lounges if available.
According to a press release from Marriott, Stay Pass packages are available at almost 2,000 hotels around the world. Predictably, rates vary depending on the property you want to stay at. For example, The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles is charging at least $439 per night, while the AC Hotel Beverly Hills has rooms from $194 per night.
Play Pass
If you (and your family, too) need to get away for more than just a night or two, consider a Play Pass package, which is available at many of Marriott's higher-end and resort locations across the world. They're designed to equip each member of the family with all they need to work and study with all the perks of a resort and away from the home office and classroom.
During a Play Pass stay, guests will have access to a dedicated business concierge, supervised kids' activities, dedicated office and study spaces and other "curated experiences" depending on the property.
Bonvoy members will receive all standard benefits (including lounge access at participating properties) as well as Elite night credits and points on eligible purchases. Play Pass is available in many locations around the world, including many close to home like Florida, California, Arizona, Cancun and more.
You can book Play Pass stays through a dedicated link, and you'll have to stay a minimum of three nights. In some cases, like at the Koloa Landing Resort at Poipu, Autograph Collection, you'll pay a premium for booking through the package over just booking standard nightly rates, depending on when you're looking to stay.
For example, for a five-night stay at this property in February 2021, you'll pay $2,782 total for the package, but $2,421 total with a standard nightly rate. Compare this with a similar offering from Hyatt -- the Work From Hyatt program -- that typically offers stays at a discount and provides more guaranteed benefits in most cases such as discounted or complimentary laundry.
Bottom line
Marriott's become the next major hotel chain to formally offer a work-from-hotel package. And it's great that it is providing a full slate of options ranging from single-day visits for someone who wants a more-peaceful office to get specific projects done to multi-day packages designed to please the whole family with business concierges and dedicated spaces for working and studying.
Before you book any package, check with the hotel you have your eye on, as benefits can vary slightly depending on location.
The world's largest hotel chain recognizes that the work-from-hotel concept will likely stick around for quite some time. Many workers don't yet have clarity on when they'll return to their offices, and as people continue to return to travel, it stands to reason that people will continue to look for ways to change up the monotony of their daily routines by escaping to hotels -- both near and far -- to give their minds and bodies a reboot, increase focus and productivity and even work on their tans in the process.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- 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.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | 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. |
| 4X | 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. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- 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.