With travel industry representatives calling this the worst downturn in travel since 9/11, when revenues were off by more than $10 billion (Federal Times, 6/11/2008), the Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center has developed some programs unique to Montgomery County to help the corporation hold onto its approximately $200 million in government business overall and its title of “Preferred Choice” for government travelers.
With soaring gas prices and airlines adding an expanding number of surcharges, travel budgets are being stretched thin, including in the federal government. The Montgomery County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) says that visitors spent a total of $1,661.4 million in the county in 2006, but those figures are projected to drop. In FY 2008, the CVB says government business generated 25 percent of their total bookings, down from 41 percent during FY 2007.
To help stretch their travel dollar, government employees staying at the Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center will now receive complimentary high speed internet access and full breakfasts, for an average cost savings of $30 per night. The hotel will also extend government per diem rates to all federal travelers. In addition, in an effort to help government travelers save time when booking reservations, Marriott has also developed a dedicated government travel website www.marriott.com/gov that shows per diem availability at all Marriott properties.
This program grew out of Marriott’s specially trained service team whose members complete a program geared to understanding the unique needs and restrictions of the federal government traveler. Employees completing the program are designated Certified Government Sales Professionals. The members of these teams must understand the regulations put in place by the General Services Administration (GSA), the government agency that develops travel guidelines for government employees.
“These federal travelers must follow very strict guidelines when arranging for groups at hotels and individual travelers must adhere to per diem rates set by GSA,” says Jason Blevins, Marriott area account executive.
“Marriott sales associates must understand how to operate within these guidelines and how to make the sales process as simple as possible for clients,” explains Matt Felix, general manager, Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center. “We are continuing to work to come up with unique solutions to the challenges resulting from the changing economy.”
Contacts:
by
Remey Communications
Sandra Remey,
301-929-3554
Cell: 301-467-9024
