Marriott Elevates Design Lab at New Headquarters in Innovation Push
Photo Caption: Marriott International's Design Lab on the fourth floor of its corporate headquarters, overseen by Jeff Voris, senior vice president, global design strategies (shown). Source: Sean O'Neill / Skift.
Skift Take
Management smugness can doom any company to falling behind. So it's reassuring to see hotel giants like Marriott International make innovation efforts and guest feedback more visible and central.
Marriott International has literally elevated its design work in its new head office, considering that its innovation lab at its previous headquarters was in the basement. At the company's just-opened headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, workers have already begun testing new guest room designs, food offerings, and operational equipment in an airy space on the fourth floor.
"The team is energized because this space has natural light and is purpose-built," said CEO Anthony Capuano during a preview tour. "They have a lot more at their fingertips."
On Monday, workers in the design lab
