Marriott to roll out Apple Pay service

Marriott International will become the first global hotel group to allow guests to make payments using their Apple mobile devices.

The phased roll out of Apple Pay will commence this summer in the US, initially at Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Edition and Renaissance hotels in New York, Washington DC, Chicago, San Francisco, Miami, Los Angeles and San Jose.

Guests using Apple Pay at check-in will be able to scan their iPhone 6 or soon, Apple Watch, near a reader at the front desk. The device will then responds with a vibration and beep, meaning the payment information has been captured. This system means that guests will no longer have to provide a credit card during check-in.

“Approximately 75% of our guests travel with one or more mobile devices, and it is even higher among 25-35 year-olds – a group that will make up a much larger proportion of our guests over the next three years,” said George Corbin, senior vice president of Marriott Digital.

“Millions of customers already use Marriott Mobile to quickly book a hotel, check-in, or check out. Now, Apple Pay can make it virtually effortless.”

The Apple Pay roll-out marks the latest step in Marriott’s mobile strategy. In 2013, the hotel group launched mobile check-in and check-out services on its smartphone app, and it has also started testing an app that allows hotel guests to request services such as extra towels and dinner reservations.

Marriott said it is also planning to launch an app for the Apple Watch.

sourced:traveldailymedia.com