Marriott to make all US, Canada hotels non-smoking

Reuters ^ | 7/19/2006 | Reuters

[xrp]

Marriott to make all US, Canada hotels non-smoking
Wednesday July 19, 6:34 am ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Marriott International Inc. (NYSE:MAR - News) on Wednesday said it will make all of its hotels in the United States and Canada entirely non-smoking, beginning in September.

The company said the policy change, which it called the largest in its industry, covers more than 2,300 hotels and corporate apartments with nearly 400,000 rooms.

Marriott, based in Bethesda, Maryland, said more than 90 percent of its guest rooms are already non-smoking. It said more customers have been demanding non-smoking rooms.

The change covers such brands as Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence Inn and Fairfield Inn. Marriott has nearly 2,800 lodging properties in the United States and 67 other countries.

[O6ret]

Vegetarians say similar things about people who eat meat.

The difference is that meat eaters don't stink up hotel rooms...unless they smoke.

[elkfersupper]

The difference is that meat eaters don't stink up hotel rooms...unless they smoke.

Meat eaters stink simply by existing.

The should be exiled, just like smokers. /sarcasm

[Paved Paradise]

We spent a night in downtown Zurich. Got a smoking room and couldn't be moved since rooms were all booked and city was filled up - lots of stuff going on there all the time. It was horrible because when we took our showers the heat somehow opened up the pores in the walls and just let this hideous smoking odor invade the room. I was choking all night long; we left the windows (no screens) wide open and just endured the traffic sounds. It was the worst night I ever spent, ever. I think Marriott's decision is a good one.