In 2019, Marriott announced plans to significantly grow its portfolio of all-inclusive properties. With this initiative, we’ll see new properties built, and also see existing properties converted into Marriotts. All-inclusive properties will span many of Marriott’s brands, including Ritz-Carlton, Luxury Collection, Marriott, Westin, W, Autograph Collection, and Delta by Marriott.
Continue reading: All-Inclusive Resorts Join Marriott Autograph Collection
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
The entire brand strategy of the "leftovers brands" is unclear to begin with, but I'm not sure I would consider Autograph Collection to be that fancy. Marriott has clearly positioned Luxury Collection to be higher-end than Autograph, so it seems like these hotels more or less fit in, although Tribute might be a better fit for some of them (assuming, though it's not totally clear, that Tribute is a step below Autograph).
Really worried that one of the big boys like Marriott or Hilton will buy the Excellence Collection which is the only all inclusive brand i will ever visit. There is a clear arms race and bidding war for all inclusive properties right now and i think Excellence is the best one out there of the independents. Hopefully Hyatt gets them would be a shame for them to get Bonvoy'd.
Took a look through these this morning. Look at how terrible the reviews are for some of these properties on Marriott's own website. Many are below 4* and some are below 3*
The funniest is the headline by Marriott of the "top rated" Royalton Antigua which definitely isn't back up by its "actual rating" of 2.2. If redemption rates were 15k/$100 a night, I'd still think twice given the ratings on some of these hotels
Autograph Collection is a "soft" brand for Marriott. This allows for more individual location design elements instead of cookie-cutter boxes, while still getting the feeder of the Marriott reservation systems for the owner/operator. While the brand is most known for boutique product, that is/was not the (original) intent.
With all of Marriott’s brands, why not just create a standalone All-Inclusive Brand or fold them into Marriott Vacation Club? What does titanium or ambassador elite status get you when breakfast is already included?
I received an e-mail directly from the Marriott Bonvoy program about the All-Inclusive program and a pointer to the web pages. What really isn't clear is exactly what “all-inclusive” really means. From what I interpret the web pages to be really saying is that “all-inclusive” is really “somewhat-but-not-totally inclusive.” Not all food items, not all drinks, no laundry (including self-service), etc. are included. No mention about any phony baloney “resort fees” though…
Most important question: are any of these new properties (or other Marriott all-inclusives) actually good?
It will be good to know what benefits if any we will get at this all inclusive properties based on our Marriott Status. It would be a good post for the the future.