BETHESDA, Md. — Marriott International Inc. has launched its first its first pop-up hotel innovation lab in downtown Los Angeles. The pop-up features an interactive model hotel experience, which allows the company to crowdsource real-time feedback from the public.
The lab will let industry professionals, hotel guests, associates and the general public see, touch, taste and hear some of the enhancements being considered for the future of Marriott’s Aloft and Element brands. Among the experiences on display is a pilot of a new guestroom design for Element, featuring a communal room in the center of four guestrooms — allowing travellers to share a kitchen, dining room and lounge area.
A fresh take on Aloft’s food-and-beverage program is also on display. The concept allows travellers to order customized “pots” (a healthy meal in a colourful to-go container) from a digital kiosk.
“We’re excited to unveil Marriott’s first-ever, pop-up innovation lab for Aloft and Element — two phenomenal brands that are always evolving as guests, lifestyles and technology change,” says Eric Jacobs, chief development officer – North America, Marriott Select Brands, Marriott International. “We’re also eager to collect and utilize feedback from the ownership community, which has expressed tremendous enthusiasm for both brands.”
At year-end 2016, there were 116 Aloft and 23 Element hotels open around the world. In 2017, Marriott expects to open 33 Aloft properties and 14 Element properties across the globe in a diverse array of cities.
