Marriott on the Move

At approximately 7:00 p.m. local time, an apparent car bomb exploded outside of the Islamabad Marriott in Pakistan. The bomb caused extensive damage to the front of the hotel and started a fire. Marriott International and the hotel are working with local authorities and rescue personnel to assist victims. News reports indicate numerous people were killed and injured in the blast. "We live in a dangerous world and this is a terrible tragedy. We grieve for those people who died, or were injured, and their families," said Bill Marriott.

For information on guests staying at the Islamabad Marriott, please contact 866/211-4610 or 402/390-3265. Media should call 301/380-7770.

Life can be pretty hectic and, just like everybody else, I sometimes like to get away to relax and recharge my batteries. My wife Donna is a big advocate of making time to be with our family and time to recharge my engines. I sure think it helps make me a better manager and a better CEO.

I know it's getting harder now for people to get away with the current economic uncertainty, high gas prices and very high airfares. A lot of people who read my blog have asked me about deals at Marriott hotels. So, if you weren't able to get away this summer, or if you want to get away before the year ends, I'm excited to tell you about one of our very best offers yet.

We're offering 20 percent off weekend rates at more than 2,500 of our Marriott hotels now through December 21st. All you . . .

I'll always remember when we opened our first hotel in Mexico, which was a resort in Acapulco on the beach, overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean. This was a long time ago - about 1968. Today we have 16 hotels in Mexico and we just announced a huge expansion - adding 23 hotels in our pipeline that now stands at 29. That means the number of hotels we have in Mexico should triple in five years.

Even during the economic slowdown, Marriott is continuing to grow for the future. Hotel development outside the United States is driving a lot of . . .

I know the daily headlines about the economy are causing some jitters. I'm as concerned as you are about the declining stock market, distress at mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and all the turbulence in the airline industry.

The high price of oil, airline capacity cuts and the current economic malaise present real challenges for Marriott and for the hotel industry. However, I've been through seven or eight of these downturns in my career -- most recently in 1990 to 1992 and 2001 to 2003 -- and I have terrific confidence in our business strategy, the strength of our management team and spirited associates to weather this storm and come out ahead.

We just posted our second quarter earnings, which . . .

After 52 years in the business, one thing I've learned is go south in the winter and north in the summer to visit hotels. One of my favorite places to go, of course, is southern Florida.

In February, we had our board meeting at our Marriott resort in Marco Island, Florida. That property just underwent a huge renovation - almost $200 million worth. Now they have a fantastic spa that features Balinese treatments, they have eight terrific restaurants and brand new swimming pools. The rooms have all been redone, they've got a brand new ballroom . . .

One of the things I love about my job is being part of the creative design team. I'm a frustrated interior designer I guess. I love color and I love to fiddle around with the designs.

I'm pleased to say that these days we're taking a bolder approach to our hotel lobby designs. We're designing them the way guests want to use our lobby and it's changed a lot. It seems that lobbies have become the hub for work and play.

I toured the Fair Oaks, Virginia Courtyard hotel a few miles away from our headquarters. It has the new lobby concept, and I know you're really going to love it.

The colors are bright and vivid. They were inspired by . . .