Marriott Hotels Again Invites Travel Influencers and Enthusiasts to Submit Bold Ideas on TravelBrilliantly.com That Could Change the Future of Travel

BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Following up on the successful launch of its website TravelBrilliantly.com, Marriott Hotels, the flagship brand of Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR), today launched a new round of co-creation for 2014 in the United States and – for the first time – the United Kingdom. Ideas from the public submitted to TravelBrilliantly.com through the end of April will be entered into a co-creation contest.* The grand-prize winner will travel to the company's Bethesda, MD headquarters to work alongside Marriott experts on forward-thinking projects in its innovation lab, The Underground.

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Geared towards modern travelers who seamlessly blend work and play, TravelBrilliantly.com has been soliciting travel ideas for design, culinary, wellness and technology since it launched with the brand's Travel Brilliantly marketing campaign in June 2013. Visitors to the site can also watch videos of innovations Marriott Hotels is working on now for the future of travel.

"With Travel Brilliantly, Marriott Hotels is rethinking the travel experience beyond the four walls of the hotel," said Mara Hannula, vice president of Marketing, Marriott-endorsed Brands. "As we transform the iconic Marriott Hotels brand, we are continuing to engage our guests, giving them a voice in co-creating the future of travel with us."

A panel of four judges -- Shira Lazar, Host/Founder of What's Trending, Faris Yakob, Founder, Genius Steals LLC, Chris Baer, Director of Innovation at Marriott, and Anjana Kallarackal, grand prize winner from TravelBrilliantly.com's first co-creation contest -- will choose the next grand-prize winner.  In addition, three first prize winners will receive prize packages, including items from Herschel Supply Co. and Brookstone** that will enable brilliant travel.

From more than 700 submissions to TravelBrilliantly.com in last year's co-creation contest, Kallarackal's concept, a healthy and nutritious vending machine, rose to the top. Kallarackal traveled to the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square to work with Marriott Hotels' experts and local innovative partners, Simon Prockter, the Founder/CEO of Housebites, Shaun Clarkson, interior designer and owner of Pitfield Cafe, and Laurence Holloway, recipient of the 2013 British Young Business Award for his company, Lovestruck, to further develop her winning idea. A video of Kallarackal's trip can be viewed on TravelBrilliantly.com. Once fully developed, her inspirational idea will come to life at a Marriott Hotels' property later this year.

As a part of Marriott Hotel's transformation for the next generation of travelers, the iconic brand continues to innovate globally. With the expansion of mobile check-in feature globally on the Marriott Mobile app, guests can check-in to 350 Marriott Hotels' properties in 19 countries, using their smartphones. By the end of 2015, Marriott Hotels expects to fully introduce its re-designed Greatroom Lobby, to all hotels globally. The Greatroom Lobby is designed for the next generation traveler who blends work and play, demands style and substance, and requires technology. Additionally, as the industry leader in hosting meetings, Marriott Hotels recently introduced new concepts for the mobile worker including Meetings Imagined, the Meeting Services App (Red Coat Direct) and Workspace on Demand.

About Marriott Hotels

With 500 hotels and resorts in nearly 60 countries around the world, Marriott Hotels is evolving travel through every aspect of the guest's stay, enabling the next generation to Travel Brilliantly. Boldly transforming itself for mobile and global travelers who blend work and play, Marriott leads the industry with innovations, including the Greatroom Lobby, Future of Meetings and Mobile Guest Services that elevates style & design and technology. All Marriott hotels participate in the award winning Marriott Rewards frequent travel program that allows members to earn hotel points or airline miles for every dollar spent during each stay. For more information, visit www.MarriottHotels.com. To join the ongoing Marriott conversation, like us on Facebook (Facebook.com/Marriott) and follow us on Twitter (Twitter.com/Marriott, @Marriott).

Visit Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) for company information. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.

*Please visit www.travelbrilliantly.com for contest rules.

**Brookstone is not affiliated with Herschel Supply Co. or Marriott, and Marriott Hotels is the sole sponsor of this contest. 

SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.