Bethesda, MD -- Marriott is launching its newest educational program, Meetings Excellence!, which will be the most comprehensive training program in the hotel industry for intermediary group meeting professionals, addressing their training needs at every level. For seasoned meeting professionals, the program will offer a refresher for what they already know and further expand their lodging knowledge with a collection of valuable resources and tools. Those new to the industry will acquire essential information about the lodging industry that will assist them in all aspects of meeting planning, including recommending hotels more effectively.

Meetings Excellence! is a self-paced online training course and features three modules that include an in-depth introduction to the meetings industry, strategies for planning a successful meeting, and information about Marriott brands, programs and services. The program is initially available in English but will be translated into French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, and Turkish by the end of the first quarter, 2009.

“Marriott is proud to introduce Meetings Excellence!, as we continue to demonstrate our commitment to our group intermediary partners and to thank them for all they do to drive business to us. Our investment began with the centralization of group commissions, followed by our innovative group partner website, and now Meetings Excellence!,” said Julius Robinson, vice president sales intermediaries for Marriott.

Meetings Excellence! can be found on Marriott’s website for group intermediaries www.marriott.com/grouppartners. This site, which was launched last October, also features promotions and special offers and meeting planning tools. “For members of Marriott’s Centralized Commissions program, the site also allows them electronic access to monitor the status of their commission payments and pending events; a unique benefit and the first of its kind in the industry,” said Robinson . In 2007, Marriott centralized its group commission payments and support for North American group intermediaries. Industry-accredited group intermediaries now receive consistent, detailed and timely commissions in one consolidated payment for more than 2,900 Marriott International hotels worldwide, including Marriott, JW Marriott, Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn, and TownePlace Suites.

In addition to receiving certification as a “Marriott Meeting Professional”, Meetings Excellence! graduates will be eligible for Marriott’s discounted Plan-Tastic rates starting at $44USD at over 2,500 hotels around the world. They will also be eligible for other exclusive benefits including continuing education unit credit towards CMP certification and the opportunity to receive special consolidated e-communications with promotions, offers, and news from Marriott.

For more information, intermediary group professionals may contact our Intermediary Partner Care team at [email protected], or via phone at 1-800-445-1551 or 1-402-390-1651.

Laurie Goldstein
301-380-5296
Marriott