Marriott on the Move

Posted By: Roger A. Baldwin (03/05/2010 at 02:15 PM)
Comment:

Mr. Marriott,

Can you summarize, in a short paragraph or two the heart of TPA?

Posted By: The Global Traveller (03/05/2010 at 02:42 PM)
Comment:

How does charging visitors a tax encourage tourism?

You are right that simplifying entry processes and making them more friendly will help. But there is no need to tax visitors in order to make those kind of changes.

Posted By: Kevin (03/05/2010 at 05:18 PM)
Comment:

I'm sorry Bill, but I heartily disagree with you.

For a foreign visitor like myself, it's yet another excess charge to enter the USA, so rather than attracting visitors, it will have the effect of turning visitors away, and consider other destinations.

Whilst the "act" is not a visa, it gives the impression and feel of one, carried out at government level.

Maybe the EU should consider reciprocating with a 10 euro surcharge for American Visitors to "promote" the area?

Whilst I will happily continue to patronage the USA, I won't be recommending my friends... and their friends to visit the USA (Combined with the other travel issues that a person faces when travelling to the states)

Posted By: santiagomiguelperez (03/06/2010 at 02:11 AM)
Comment:

Hi! I'm please send some infor on touring the MARRIOTT, by the way BILL MARRIOTT GOD BLESS YOU I and my family send you the best of wishes ,hope you, your family and all your staff do well in this in this histroy making. Good Luck. Also,I AM.. here for the long..... HAUL!

Posted By: santiagomiguelperez (03/06/2010 at 02:35 AM)
Comment:

Hey, by the way I have I have 2 timeshares with Silverleaf Resorts, Inc.,and 1 Wyndham Disc. I and my family love it we would not give up for nothing.

Posted By: Sherry Taylor (03/06/2010 at 04:52 AM)
Comment:

Great news; a $10 fee will not deter vistors; South America has a very hefty vistor's fee and tourism is doing just fine there.

Posted By: Stuart (03/06/2010 at 05:36 AM)
Comment:

Charging visitors or "taxing" them is not the solution. Solution is to let the people visit on their own will, without the "extra" charge of doing so.

I am always opposed when government, especially at the federal level, get's involved. That typically means disaster and government isn't known for managing anything well. Government has no competition, and therefore lacks the skills to effectively see this process through.

The only thing government does well is taxing the people.

Posted By: Frank Jonathanson (03/06/2010 at 07:35 AM)
Comment:

With respect, taxing visitors is idiotic. While the TPA might be good for promoting America, it is surely counterproductve to then tax the people who you have attracted. I would bet that only the USA has such a bizarre approach for promoting itself. Instead of taxing visitors, how about instead paying visitors $10 a day. That would fill your hotels quicker than anything.

Posted By: Mike Nash (03/07/2010 at 11:46 AM)
Comment:

Its disappointing that Marriott supports yet another travel tax as this will only hurt the travel industry.

I disagree with the positive news - watch how long it takes for other countries to start taxing Americans to visit.

Posted By: Joseph Sperber 079443255 (03/07/2010 at 05:49 PM)
Comment:

We ( as a government) think extra taxes on the common users is always the answer. You are missing the point Mr. Marriott and are attending too many of Mr. (Not my President) Obama's coctailarties in DC.
You are losing your best customers sir!!!!!!!
I hope you are listening.

Posted By: Hal (03/08/2010 at 06:24 AM)
Comment:

I sincerely doubt that adding $10 to a vacation that costs, on average, $4,500--not even including airfares and the private airlines' $25 fee for having the audacity to carry luggage--will change people's travel plans. That's less than 1/4 of 1 percent. Does anyone honestly believe that someone wanting to travel from Europe or even farther, with air tickets, hotels, food, tickets to museums, theaters, and whatever else will totally change his plans and go somewhere else because of a $10 fee? Come on, people! Let's get reasonable! This is taking the already humorous American tax-phobia to a "whole nutha level"!

Posted By: Matthew Sellers (03/08/2010 at 08:00 AM)
Comment:

I agree with Hal that $10 is not that big of deal. I am sure you find many other countries charge some kind of fee. This money will go back to advertisement, marketing, and other incentives. This is a great way to build income without people really feeling the affect. I don't think $10 is going to make or break peoples decision to come to the US. Lets get reasonable.

Posted By: Hal (03/08/2010 at 08:34 AM)
Comment:

We tried letting people visit "on their own will", and that did not work--we lost over 2 million visitors last year, which is what prompted this. Also, I disagree with the contention that when the government gets involved it means disaster, and that the government can't manage anything well. The media covers only government failures, not successes. A few examples of these are the most powerful military in the world, the vast reduction in food-borne illnesses after the FDA (if you look at the incidence of salmonella in countries that do not regulate food service and compare it to ours, you'll be amazed), the interstate highway system--the list goes on and on. And the reason the government is known for waste and fraud is that its waste and fraud is (and should be) publicly known. Private industry's waste and fraud is usually confidential and doesn't come out until the entire organization collapses. Look at the wonderful examples of private efficiency such as Enron, Worldcom, AIG, Toyota, Chrysler, GM, Pan-Am, Bear Sterns, Lehman Brothers--that list goes on and on as well. Their inefficiencies and outrages are just hidden away, while they advertise their successes ad nauseum, giving the public a horribly distorted view of public vs. private efficacy.
Regarding another post--if you would bet only the USA has such a "bizarre" approach to promoting itself, you'd lose--although most countries bury their charges in other taxes and airline fees. As was noted above, this has been tried in other countries with huge success. Americans always vastly overestimate the effect taxes have on decisions. It seems to me that the contention that this will stifle tourism has already been proven wrong in numerous other venues.

Posted By: Afroz Ahsan (03/10/2010 at 02:01 AM)
Comment:

I visit America very often, and I don't think a $10 fee is gonna put me off, so I agree with Bill, TPA is a good move. America is a great place to visit and to encourage tourism is great for the US economy, great for employment in the US and lots of fun.

Posted By: Travel to India (03/10/2010 at 05:06 AM)
Comment:

Its really laborious and admirable step by U.S president Barak Obama to uplift the status of travel and tourism.Now is today's era if media is the second light pillar of nation firmness, then travel and tourism is the Third light pillar of nation and economy as well.

Travel to India

Posted By: Mike Perez (03/10/2010 at 08:48 AM)
Comment:

Bill: I think you are wrong on this one. Here is yet another way to tax (and spend). Localities are already imposing hefty hotel taxes on visitors in order to finance stadiums and other local projects. In places like Key West these taxes run about $100 per day. Now the feds want a piece of the action to fund their tax-and-spend policies. I am just waiting for a "breathing tax" to be imposed.

It would be best for Marriott to focus more on customer care and eliminate the policy of overbooking rooms (as they did in my recent stay at the JW Marriott in New Orleans) to make customers long time customers like myself want to stay with you.

Mike Perez

Posted By: Lavaille (03/11/2010 at 04:42 AM)
Comment:

Great News. I travel a great deal.
Working on a book that is being published by Hachette. Would love to get an interview with you. What is the best way to reach you.

Thanks,

Posted By: Hal Summers (03/11/2010 at 11:23 AM)
Comment:

NPR had a good segment on this just the other day. You can find it at:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124464001

Most other countries charge $131 for a Visa and have a travel fee. It's time for the US to catch up and go after those tourist dollars.

Posted By: Dr Charles Winstone (03/12/2010 at 02:06 AM)
Comment:

Mr Marriott

I respectfully disagree with you on this point. Sadly the ESTA nations will replicate the charge at their end meaning this will, in effect, become ANOTHER tax on every tourist / business traveller wishing to take a vacation or business trip. Tourism and business ventures should be encouraged by the removal of taxation not be burdened with more fees and increased bureaucracy. Government and the private sector should find another way of funding what is, without doubt, a righteous endeavour.

Posted By: Juliette Adams (03/12/2010 at 12:57 PM)
Comment:

Dear Mr. Marriott:

I trust the great wisdom in your strong advocacy for the Travel Promotion Act (TPA) which brings to mind Warren Buffett’s famous quote: “We simply attempt to be fearful when others are greedy and to be greedy only when others are fearful.” However most of the comments seem to lack your foresight. Could you do a follow up blog entry which would encompass your foresight and passion of TPA, especially as edification is such a golden transmission? As stated by A. Clarke “The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible.”

Thanks for taking us beyond ourselves, as you keep Marriott on the Move.

Posted By: Heritage Pakistan (03/13/2010 at 02:45 AM)
Comment:

Heritage Pakistan, being a nation’s or rather a population’s inheritance is very sacred. It depicts that particular race’s progress, development, and intuition towards the future.

Posted By: Marvin (03/16/2010 at 02:31 PM)
Comment:

Mr. Marriott,

As much as you're interested in TPA and aadvocating the merits. Aren't you interested in establishing "Marriott Presence" in Africa?

I was working with one of your VPs that left on establishment of "Marriott in Africa - Nigeria". And it's been difficult to get hold of anyone to continue the effort.

I apologize for using this medium but it's the only one availbel to get your attention.
You have my unofficial email due to it's a blog. My company is based her ein United States. I was in your London office last year with one of your VPs.

Please respond to my email and I will send you my phone number and official business email address.

Thanks Bill.

Posted By: Ed Burghard (03/16/2010 at 05:40 PM)
Comment:

Bill - I'd like to make you aware of the Strengthening Brand America Project (www.strengtheningbrandamerica.com) and invite you to leave a comment on any blog post that interests you. The Project is an educational community of practice.

Posted By: deb (03/16/2010 at 10:12 PM)
Comment:

I think that a small fee will not discourage tourists and I think the US needs tight and thoughtful security. However, it is critical that the visitors be met by polite and friendly agents and also that there be short waits, clean bathrooms, the ability to buy beverages and pleasant surroundings while people wait for baggage and customs checks.

Posted By: R. Eckstein (03/17/2010 at 07:03 AM)
Comment:

Are stay at J W Marriott in Houston Texas resently was enjoyed except when trying to enter or exit your underground parking. When scaning are room card to get in/out garage was unreadable they always wanted use to try it again after using the intercom, we had the card replaced twice, this went on for 3 days, maybe this could be corrected for your next customers?