Marriott Goes 100% Smoke-Free in North America

This represents the industry’s largest move to a non-smoking environment, with more than 2,300 hotels and corporate apartments and nearly 400,000 guest rooms under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn, TownePlace Suites and Marriott ExecuStay brands. The American Cancer Society approves.

A Breath of Fresh Air — Marriott Goes 100% Smoke-Free in North America Change is in the air.   All of our lodging brands in the United States and Canada will become 100% smoke-free, beginning in September. This represents the industry’s largest move to a non-smoking environment, with more than 2,300 hotels and corporate apartments and nearly 400,000 guest rooms under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn, TownePlace Suites and Marriott ExecuStay brands.   The new policy includes all guest rooms, restaurants, lounges, meeting rooms, public space and employee work areas. Currently more than 90% of Marriott guest rooms are already non-smoking and smoking is prohibited in many public spaces due to local laws. Demand for non-smoking rooms continues to rise with new information from the Surgeon General on the hazards of secondary smoke.   We look forward to seeing you — so you can experience the clear difference that Marriott offers.

Smoke-Free Hotels Questions 1. What is Marriott’s Smoke-Free Hotel Environment strategy? 2. Why has Marriott made this decision? 3. Does this include your international hotels? 4. What are you doing to convert your properties to non-smoking? 5. What room renovations will take place? 6. How will smokers be accommodated? Will they be able to smoke within the building? 7. What measures will Marriott take to enforce this policy? Smoke-Free Hotels Answers 1. What is Marriott’s Smoke-Free Hotel Environment strategy? Marriott’s Smoke-Free Hotel Environment strategy includes all of the company’s lodging brands in the United States and Canada. This policy took effect October 16, 2006. This represents the industry’s largest move to a non-smoking environment, with more than 2,300 hotels and corporate apartments and nearly 400,000 guest rooms under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn, TownePlace Suites and Marriott ExecuStay brands. This initiative includes all guest rooms, restaurants, lounges, meeting rooms, public space and associate work areas. Currently more than 90 percent of Marriott guest rooms are already non-smoking and smoking is prohibited in many public spaces due to local laws. Demand for non-smoking rooms continues to rise with new information from the Surgeon General on the hazards of secondary smoke.   Back to top 2. Why has Marriott made this decision? The vast majority of requests from our guests favor a completely smoke-free hotel environment. The only way to provide this experience is to not allow smoking within the building. Therefore, we are extending this preference throughout all areas of the hotel. We will offer special designated smoking areas outside the building to accommodate the needs of our guests who smoke. Back to top 3. Does this include your international hotels? This program will be optional in our international properties at this time. We will continue to offer non-smoking guestrooms in all these hotels but will allow international properties to accommodate local cultures and preferences on allowing smoking within the hotel. Back to top 4. What are you doing to convert your properties to non-smoking? All areas of our properties periodically undergo a thorough process to cleanse them from environmental pollutants, including smoke. We are announcing this decision in advance to allow properties time to complete that extensive cleaning in their smoking guest rooms as well as public areas. Back to top 5. What room renovations will take place? Renovations are not required. However, all smoking rooms will go through an extensive cleaning process to include carpet, walls and draperies. This transition will start immediately and conclude by mid-October.  Back to top 6. How will smokers be accommodated? Will they be able to smoke within the building? While there will be no smoking areas within the building, smoking will be allowed outside in special designated areas. We will seek to accommodate guests as best as possible.  Back to top 7. What measures will Marriott take to enforce this policy? This policy will be part of our Quality Assurance process. We are training our associates to respond. For example, housekeepers will be taught to look out for signs of smoking in the hotel. Guests will be reminded at the point of reservations and upon arrival that smoking is not allowed. Pre-arrival email notifications will also include a reference to the policy. There will be a significant room recovery fee for guests who do not comply in order to cover the extensive cost of restoring guest rooms to a smoke-free condition. Back to top