Company leads the way with first move to automate payment to group intermediaries.

Marriott announced today that it will centralize and automate the payment of commissions to group intermediaries beginning January 2007.  This is the largest effort in the lodging industry to streamline group commission payments.

Industry-accredited group intermediaries will receive more consistent, detailed and timely commissions in one consolidated payment for more than 2,800 Marriott International hotels worldwide, including Marriott, JW Marriott, Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn, and TownePlace Suites. 

The intermediary may choose to receive payment by check or direct deposit/electronic funds transfer, and will receive a more detailed paper or email statement that outlines the business they have booked for each hotel.  These new services will be accompanied by access to Marriott's centralized support providing group intermediaries with one phone number for payment inquiries.

To participate, organizations must be accredited by  ARC, IATAN, IATAN/TSI, IATA, or IATA/TIDS , and provide that designation number to the hotel sales manager.  These industry organizations use established criteria to endorse the business practices of those that sell the various components of travel and hospitality services. 

Group planners based in the U.S. who do not have one of these numbers can learn more about the accreditation process by logging onto  IATAN.org, and selecting Option 1, then Option 5.  Non-U.S. intermediaries can log onto  iata.org/tids