MARKET NEWS
Protea Hotels by Marriott: still South Africa’s ‘Coolest Hotel Brand’
For the 10th consecutive year, Protea Hotels by Marriott has been voted as South Africa’s Coolest Hotel Brand in the Sunday Times Generation Next Survey.
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he accolade indicates that the South African-born brand, which has an international footprint and forms part of one of the world’s largest hospitality groups, Marriott International, has remained a firm favourite among young South Africans. Now in its 14th year, Generation Next polls the opinions of around 6 000 of South Africa’s youth (ages 8 to 22) in urban and peri-urban environments in six provinces. The lifestyle and consumer behaviour questionnaire is boosted by a further 4 000 face-to-face interviews. “We are delighted to be awarded this coveted accolade, as voted by the next
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generation of travellers in a strategically important market. Our brand has a deep understanding of our ever-changing market and we are invested in creating memorable experiences for all of our guests, across all age brackets. This accolade has shown that Protea Hotels by Marriott has consistently kept up with the demands of our guests and has stayed relevant for over a decade,” said Volker Heiden, area vice president SubSaharan Africa, Marriott International. “As we welcome travellers back to our hotels, we are committed to providing them with a safe stay experience through the implementation of elevated cleaning
protocols and the use of advanced cleaning technology,” Mr Heiden said. These protocols include cleaning and disinfecting protocols are in place to sanitize rooms after guests depart and before the next guests arrive, and there is also an increased frequency of cleaning in the ‘Back of House’, where hotel employees work behind the scenes. “These improved protocols are just one example of how we are constantly evolving to deliver a highly personalised experience for our guests. We look forward to welcoming our guests and creating unique opportunities for them to create lasting memories,” Mr Heiden concluded. Business Events Africa October 2020 3
