Marriott is betting on longer vacations becoming the new normal

Marriott is betting on longer vacations becoming the new normal

Marriott is catering to the COVID-19 trend of longer vacations with a new suite of locations and rooms under its "longer stay" brands.

This desire for extended trips has been growing since people began considering travel again amid COVID-19. And according to a Vrbo survey of 2,200 US-based travelers in December 2020, almost 40% of those surveyed said their next trip would be "at least" a week.

Like other travel providers, Marriott has noticed increasing interest for its "longer stay" hotels, Tina Edmundson, global brand and marketing officer of Marriott International, said in a press release. According to Marriott, this demand stems from both leisure and business travel, with business travelers looking to spend more time out, and leisure "small group" visitors looking for new places to vacation and work remotely.

 Now, the hotel giant is looking to capitalize on this travel trend by opening575 new locations under its "longer stay brands." These Marriott chains “” which include Element Hotels, Residence Inn, and TownePlace Suites “” already amount to a combined total of 1,400 hotels.

These long-term oriented offerings mix bigger rooms with extra amenities, including work centers, WiFi, breakfast, and gyms. 

Marriott's Element Hotel “” which was designed to appeal to the "healthy, active