Ramada and Marriott Rewards
 

Apologies if any of this has been covered before but I could not search for any previous threads.

Much has been talked about why Ritz Carlton is a premium product and Marriott do not have the urge to include this within the Rewards scheme. I just wondered what is the story about Ramada and why this chain is not included within the Rewards scheme. Am I right in thinking that Ramada is also wholly owned by Marriott?

Just curious about this.

Yes, Ramada International is owned by Marriott International, Inc. Back in September 2004, Cendant Corporation's Hotel Group and Marriott International Inc. signed a non-binding letter of intent for Cendant to purchase Ramada International Hotels & Resorts from Marriott International. This could be why Ramada International is not included in the reward scheme. Good thing too, since they are not the nest of prpoerties. I stayed in one last year per a customer's request and left after 1 night for a Renaissance. I picked up the rate difference on my own dime - that tells you something about their property.

I asked the same question of a global sales person a while back and it was explained to me that Marriott only markets and deals with Ramada's international properties. He mentioned that Marriott had no affiliation with the domestic Ramada properties.

Cendant Corporation's Hotel Group acquired Ramada International Hotels & Resorts from Marriott International Inc. late last year.

See http://www.cendant.com/media/pr/pres...Services/11681

The Ramada properties in the U.S. and Canada were never part of Marriott (except that Marriott licensed the Ramada trademark to Cendant until earlier last year). The Ramada International properties were part of Marriott, but were not marketed as part of the Marriott family of lodging brands and did not participate in Marriott Rewards.

Presumably, Ramada International was never part of Marriott's long-term strategy. But when Marriott bought Stouffer Renaissance, Marriott wound up with Ramada International as part of the deal.

When I think "Ramada", I think "unclean version of Fairfield Inn". I stayed in one or two in college, but now when I see one I keep driving, hoping a Hampton or a Fairfield - or even a Holiday Inn Express - will appear at the next exit.

It's just trivia, but does anyone recall that Renaissance was originally the lflag that Ramada (domestic) used when it tried entering the high-end/business hospitality segment?

I have one of their mini-soaps in my collection of hotel souvenirs (btw, no hard or soft goods - only those that would be considered expendable).


What is now the Renaissance Parc 55 in SF was originally the Ramada Renaissance; then became an independent called "Parc 55" before its acquisition by (I forget which), either Stouffer or Marriott.

I remember staying there the first year it was opened under Ramada and then in 1990 when it was independent.

Good hotel, but its location is on the edge of the Tenderloin, which can be somewhat dicey. For that reason I've been staying at the Marriott Downtown even though Ren's rooms are somewhat nicer, IMHO.