Marriott International is Cutting Back

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

Marriott International is cutting back on the high-demand home development business and is cutting prices at some of its fractional ownership resorts. Marriott is also planning to halt its timeshare development in Europe. However, according to a recent Orlando Sentinel story, Marriott officials report that their timeshare business run by Orlando based Marriott Vacation Club International is doing better than its high-end counterpart.

According to Marriott’s president and chief operating officer, Arne Sorenson, the significant decline in demand for luxury residential real estate is reflective of today’s economy. It also reflects the relative strength and deeper market of the traditional timeshare business, which while impacted by the weaker economy has proved to be more resilient.

A Fourth Quarter Loss for Marriott

Saturday, March 14th, 2009

Marriott International, the biggest hotel chain in the US, reported a fourth quarter loss $10 million compared against profits of $176 million one year earlier.

According to Arne Sorenson, Marriott’s chief financial officer, “Economic conditions in the U.S. and now around the globe are difficult.” Marriott International’s Orlando based timeshare unit reported an adjusted loss of $2 million, as it has struggled with a weak demand for timeshares and a deteriorating credit market. Timeshare sales have declined 23% from one year earlier.