Skift Take
Marriott took a big leap in launching its own short-term rental business to take on Airbnb. But it's definitely still too early to expect the world's largest hotel chain to challenge on that front.
Marriott knows two things for certain about its homesharing business launched back in April: The offering is still tiny compared to market rivals, and Marriott Bonvoy, the industry’s largest loyalty offering at 133 million users, will likely be the catalyst for its growth.
Yet the hotelier does not have any idea how large the ancillary business will actually become, CEO Arne Sorenson said on an earnings call last week.
“We're optimistic about the future, but we don't really have any forecast for you yet,” he said.
Marriott's hotel owners, however, will be paying close attention to the growth of company's new venture, a business model widely viewed by experts as the biggest threat to traditional lodging today. In response, Sorenson said that 95 percent of Marriott's homesharing offerings are two-bedroom units and above, which is much different than a standard hotel room.
“I think our owners, particularly in the U.S., are interested in how this will grow, and we're working our way through that,” Sorenson added. "But we'll be transparent with them about this and make sure they understand how we are growing."
Homes & Vill
