pokee

This is indeed fabulous news for us Canadians! It was slim pickins to use my Marriott points and/or earn points up here in Canada. The BEST addition, I will agree, will be the Delta in Whistler!

One question, though: the press released noted that Affiliates of B.C. Investment Management own 13 of the Delta hotels and will sign new 30-year management agreements with Marriott, and third parties own the other 25 Delta hotels including 15 that are managed by Delta and 10 are that franchised. I am not sure how to interpret this? Does that still mean that ALL 38 are being taken over, but that just differently depending who they are currently owned/managed by?

drwilliams

Three "legs" on the hotel "stool" so to speak:

1. Property (real estate) ownership
2. Brand (Marriott / Delta)
3. Management

So a hotel could be owned by a real estate company (say Cadillac Fairview), branded Delta, Marriott, Sheraton, etc, and managed by a third party (say an independent hotel management company. My guess is Delta will "sell" their management staff (all staff actually) to Marriott for the managed hotels, and Marriott will manage those hotels regardless of who owns the real estate. Franchises probably keep the same deal they had, just a new flag.

mapelle621

Fantastic news. I've always hated how Marriott didn't have any properties in Banff and Whistler. I wonder what will happen to the delta Privilege members... Now that I'm looking at it, their benefits seem very good

alc

Another person very happy of this move. Whether Delta come just a brand with Marriott or change to another one of the existing Marriott brands, I just love the move. I wonder if they will import my stay history from Delta over to Marriott, as that might give me lifetime status right away (Gold, maybe). I used to stay at Delta only and made Plt and later Plt+. But the reality of a Cdn only chain hit me and that I need to go with worldwide chain to help my vacation outside of Canada.

Anyway, very happy of this news.

Points Surfer

Great news actually......was always hoping Delta would partner with a global provider so I could leverage Delta status outside Canada. Though it might go back to Fairmont though but Can't wait for a Marriott Status Match lol

pokee

I got an email from Delta Privilege stating this:

Dear Delta Privilege® Member,

As you may have seen in news reports, Marriott International, Inc. has entered into a purchase agreement to buy Delta Hotels and Resorts. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of this year, subject to certain approvals.

Delta will be joining Marriott International’s portfolio of 4,100 properties in 79 countries, providing you with one-stop shopping for worldwide hotel accommodation and many more opportunities for loyalty program earning and award redemption around the world.

More information will be coming in the weeks ahead on how Delta Privilege will evolve. In the meantime, with the new benefit year around the corner, Delta Privilege will continue as per the current program conditions. Details of your 2015 membership will be sent in late February as per the usual benefit year timing.

It is business as usual in all respects for Delta Hotels and Resorts. Booked and new reservations continue to be honoured. Your favourite properties continue to operate as a Delta hotel. And most importantly, our 6,500 colleagues across the country continue to welcome you and deliver on our promise to Expect Even More® every day.

I want to express our heartfelt thanks to you in helping to build Delta into Canada’s leading full-service hotel company. Stay tuned for more details in the weeks ahead.

Sincerely,


Ken Greene
President and CEO

CdnFlier

I thought that this was to be a second airport hotel? Or were they completely shutting down the existing hotel? That's a pity, that leaves a long walk to the new one. Also, wonder what will happen with the space.

pointshogger

For the most part, I think this is a good move. Having more international options instead of only domestic options has a lot of pros to it.

SkiAdcock

Now if we could just get Marriott to buy something in New Zealand

Cheers.

jwlowry

^ That would be nice!

Long Distance

This is good news!

mjmqm

I would guess a large number of corporate employees are asking the same question....

FlyB

Nice to see Marriott, nice new property they get in the Edmonton Arena district as well.

CMK10

Between this and the AC brand, Marriott is becoming quite the global force. I may have to start paying them a little more attention and a little less to Hilton.

sdsearch

And don't forget Protea too!

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marri...ny-africa.html