Marriott to change its newspaper policy

[trifectarich]

If you want a free newspaper at a Marriott hotel, you’ll have to ask for it from now on.

Bethesda-based Marriott International Inc. says it is reducing distribution of free guest newspapers, citing a 25 percent decline in demand by customers at its 2,600 U.S. hotels.

“I visit more than 250 hotels a year, and more often than not I am stepping over unclaimed newspapers as I walk down the hallway,” said CEO J.W. Marriott, Jr. in a statement. “This new program is more guest-focused.”

Starting June 1, Marriott’s full-service hotels will ask guests at check-in if they would like a complimentary morning paper. Members of its rewards program can automatically get their preferred paper by changing their online profile.

Starting next week, free newspapers will only be available in the lobby at non full-service hotels like Courtyard and Residence Inn. Marriott guests will be able to choose USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, or the local paper.

Marriott, which started offering guests free copies of USA Today 25 years ago, says it expects to reduce newspaper distribution by 50,000 papers a day, or 18 million papers a year.

 

[playthrough]

No, J.W., it's not a "more guest-focused" program if guests aren't getting something automatically anymore.

But it's hard to argue with the move. They must toss a staggering amount of unread papers.

 

[mustangj17]

It's sort of guest focused because they save money, get the clutter out of the hallway and save time.

 

[I Should Coco]

That's a shame ... USA Today is nice to have handy in case you run out of toilet paper in your room. ;)

 

[Armchair_QB]

As long as they're still providing it, I don't see the problem.

He's right about the unclaimed papers. There always seems to be a lot of them.

 

[User 1019]

I've always wondered why they give EVERYONE a newspaper. When I'm on vacation, I'm not at the hotel, reading a newspaper. I might take it to a coffee shop for breakfast, but even then I'm not spending that amount of time on it.

Maybe if I'm at a hotel long-term, I'd read them in the evening. I dunno.

Seemed like an awful big waste of money, to me.

 

[zeke12]

I've always wondered why they give EVERYONE a newspaper. When I'm on vacation, I'm not at the hotel, reading a newspaper. I might take it to a coffee shop for breakfast, but even then I'm not spending that amount of time on it.

Maybe if I'm at a hotel long-term, I'd read them in the evening. I dunno.

Seemed like an awful big waste of money, to me.

Because the people grabbing it on their way out the door to catch a plane loved having it right there, and Marriott has been all about the business traveler.

But, from reading this story, the business traveler who are all platinum members already can just click a box on the Web site and still get their papers, so it's really no lose for them.

 

[FileNotFound]

I do grab the USA Today when I'm on the road. I don't read very much of it, but I do read it over breakfast or when I get back to the room.

In Canada, it's usually the Globe and Mail at the doorsteps (in Québec, I get the Globe and Mail and La Presse). I do make a point to read it when I can, because it's a great read. The hotel in which I'm staying as I write this doesn't leave them at the door; there's a stack on the table (of both the Globe and the local rag) by the elevators.

 

[spnited]

So do the USAT circ numbers take a hit with this move?
I'm pretty sure every paper placed in a hotel room is considered paid (sponsored) circ.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

So do the USAT circ numbers take a hit with this move?
I'm pretty sure every paper placed in a hotel room is considered paid (sponsored) circ.

Somehow I can see the folks running McPaper not thrilled about this move.

Too freaking bad.

 

[OTD]

So do the USAT circ numbers take a hit with this move?
I'm pretty sure every paper placed in a hotel room is considered paid (sponsored) circ.

Somehow I can see the folks running McPaper not thrilled about this move.

Too freaking bad.

USA Today has already lost circulation because of the travel slowdown. This won't help.

http://online.wSportsJournalists.com/article/SB123854670808076289.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

 

[DanOregon]

This is really bad news for USA Today - Marriott has what a quarter of the business traveler hotel market?

 

[spnited]

1.3 million of USA Today's circ is hotel distribution.

Does anyone here buy or even know anyone who buys McNewspaper on a regular basis?

 

[DanOregon]

I buy it during college football season on Tuesdays - they have all the scores to date in their college football log. But except when trying to figure out which 7-5 team is better in a Champs Sports Bowl, it's unnecessary. The USAToday website is getting weaker by the month as well. They keep stories on their pages for days.

 

[forever_town]

At least they're asking guests if they want the paper and not:

1) Forcing guests to actively request a paper

OR

2) Forcing guests to pay for a paper if they want one.

The move makes sense. What if a guest doesn't want the paper? He or she can opt out of getting one now.

 

[Freelance Hack]

I stayed in Marriotts for roughly 50 days out of the past year. I'd estimate that I've stepped over the USA Today on about half the time. Judging by the corridors I walk down, I'd say I'm about average.

I use local TV for the weather and the internet access to catch up on news.

Personally, I'd rather get the Journal, but I'm not brokenhearted if I can't.

 

[Armchair_QB]

If given the option I always ask for the local paper over USA Today.

 

[Lieslntx]

Does anyone here buy or even know anyone who buys McNewspaper on a regular basis?

I get it about twice a week. Not sure if I should admit that or not, but it's true.

 

[John]

1.3 million of USA Today's circ is hotel distribution.

Does anyone here buy or even know anyone who buys McNewspaper on a regular basis?

My dad's an original subscriber. It's one of the four papers he gets during the week. It's also the least read of the four.