Marriott kicks off Global Customer Appreciation Week

By VonDez Phipps
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

Simon Bell, Director of Marketing at the Marriott

Simon Bell, Director of Marketing at the resort, said the week is acknowledged at every Marriott hotel throughout the world and explained that St. Kitts’ Marriott started its events on October 24 when the staff officially welcomed the resort’s new General Manager.

Bell, in outlining the history of the Marriott, informed that hotel’s founder started out in the restaurant business and then expanded into the hotel trade some 50 years ago. The hotel chain now includes 300 establishments worldwide.

The marketing executive explained that Customer Appreciation Week is designed to thank all of the hotel’s many loyal customers and vendors for their patronage, noting that without their business, the St. Kitts Marriott could not be successful.

“We’ve got a busy week planned. On one of the days we will be cleaning up the Frigate Bay beach. We are heading down there to support our customers, because our guests really enjoy patronising the bars on the Strip. We’ve also got a day planned to personally thank our customers by taking some gifts to them.”

Bell mentioned that some of the largest travel agencies out of the USA have continually supported the St. Kitts Marriott and have helped to put both the island and the resort on the map.

He further stated that the timing for the Customer Appreciation Week has been perfect as it comes during the celebration of Tourism Awareness Month, and noted that the hotel was represented at the tourism fair to “show the locals what we are all about”.

“This is very much a long term plan for the Marriott. We are here to stay. 2008 has been a tough year, and we’ve got a really bumpy road ahead of us for 2009.

But with the support of our vendors, suppliers and customers and also the other hoteliers in the Federation, we will continue making this a success and continue to grow St. Kitts as the destination that people want to come to.”