MARRIOTT MEDIA Introduces New Era of Travel Marketing

Marriott International steps into a new chapter. Not with a hotel brand, but with a media network designed to bring brands closer to travelers in meaningful, well-timed ways. The company has officially launched MARRIOTT MEDIA, a content-driven platform that blends brand messaging with the travel experience itself.

Unlike traditional ad networks, MARRIOTT MEDIA centers the traveler, not the ad slot. It uses a mix of physical placements, digital integration, and contextual targeting to connect brands with guests across the full journey. From planning and booking to check-in, stay, and beyond. With this launch, Marriott offers brand partners access to one of the largest and most engaged travel communities in the world.

Built for personalization, powered by real behavior

What sets MARRIOTT MEDIA apart is that it matches messaging to moments using insights that go far beyond basic demographics. With access to nearly 237 million Marriott Bonvoy members, Marriott helps brands tap into more than 200 audience attributes. These range from travel intent and guest behavior to specific lifestyle interests and purchasing habits.

This data-driven model gives brands the tools to reach travelers with relevant offers and curated content, not random ads. Marriott combines its loyalty and guest data with performance measurement tools. These tools provide full visibility into how campaigns perform, from awareness to conversion. In addition, advertisers benefit from closed-loop attribution, advanced modeling, and ongoing campaign optimization.

And just as importantly, Marriott emphasizes privacy and transparency. MARRIOTT MEDIA uses only consent-based data and complies with global privacy regulations. Guests can opt out easily. The network designs all activity to build trust, not break it.

Media that fits the stay, not just the screen

MARRIOTT MEDIA doesn’t focus only on digital impressions. Instead, the platform includes placements across Marriott-owned websites, the Marriott Bonvoy app, in-room TV experiences, on-property activations, post-stay engagement, and select third-party platforms.

Because of this, it stands as one of the few networks where brand messaging follows a traveler through their full experience. It’s also one where ads actually feel like part of the journey. Whether Marriott offers a pre-arrival recommendation, a bespoke in-room brand moment, or an offer that lands right after check-out, MARRIOTT MEDIA engages when it matters.

Some of the early brand collaborators in the pilot phase include PepsiCo., Visa, Uber, Starbucks, United Airlines, Audible, American Express, Resy, and F1® THE MOVIE. These partners explore placements across a mix of environments and media types, from snackable mobile content to immersive storytelling.

One standout format features branded segments running alongside Marriott Bonvoy’s original video content on Marriott Bonvoy TV. This offers a longer-form opportunity for narrative-driven campaigns right in the guestroom.

A platform led by people who understand travelers

Marriott doesn’t hand this platform off to a generic ad-tech team. Peggy Roe, Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer, describes MARRIOTT MEDIA as a way to enhance discovery without interrupting the travel experience.

“Today’s travelers expect personalization and welcome thoughtful discovery,” Roe says. MARRIOTT MEDIA is designed to enrich, not interrupt, serving guests content, recommendations, and offers in ways that feel natural, relevant, and aligned with their travel experience.”

Leading the initiative as General Manager is Chris Norton, Marriott’s Senior Vice President of Marketing, Data Activation & Personalization. He oversees how the platform evolves to deliver value to both guests and advertisers.

“Our goal is to offer select brand partners the opportunity to create deeper engagement with customers through the lens of travel and our brands,” Norton says. “Through sophisticated measurement, including brand lift and awareness studies, attributable conversions, and advanced modeling, we empower our brand partners to align their campaigns with our travelers, ensuring meaningful engagement at every touchpoint.”

The future of travel marketing is already here

Travelers today don’t just want options. They want relevance. The content they engage with on the road should feel just as personalized as what they see on their devices at home. That’s why MARRIOTT MEDIA builds for this mindset. With Marriott’s global reach, diverse brand portfolio, and deep guest loyalty, the network creates a direct path between brands and highly engaged, high-value travelers.

This launch marks just the beginning. Marriott plans to expand MARRIOTT MEDIA into new global markets. It will adapt content to local culture and language while maintaining a high standard of brand safety and transparency. As the platform grows, it continues to blur the lines between content and experience. It also redefines what advertising in hospitality can look like.

So, for marketers looking to do more than chase impressions, MARRIOTT MEDIA offers something different: a way to meet travelers where they are, with content that belongs there.

Feature Image: The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands

Tucked away in the South Nilandhe Atoll, the premium all-inclusive resort Angsana Velavaru offers more than just a picturesque Maldivian escape. In fact, it’s known for its blend of beachside and overwater villas, including its standout InOcean Pool Villas that float above the lagoon. The resort gives guests the space to truly slow down and savour the moment. At the heart of this relaxed luxury? A collection of thoughtfully curated destination dining experiences that blend setting, Island flavours, and local character.

So whether you dine under the stars, above the ocean, or with your feet in the pool, each meal at Angsana Velavaru feels immersive and unforgettable.

What Kind of Dining Experiences Does Angsana Velavaru Offer?

Start the Morning with a Floating Breakfast

To kick things off, guests can ease into the day with a floating breakfast served right in the privacy of their villa pool. Think tropical fruits, baked pastries, and warm breakfast dishes arranged on a tray that gently drifts across the water as the sun rises.

Not a morning person? No problem. If you prefer a slower afternoon, you can enjoy a floating afternoon tea, a beautifully curated mix of sweet and savoury bites, perfect for lounging under the open Maldivian sky.

The resort offers spacious accommodations both on the island and elevated over the lagoon, allowing guests to choose their ideal setting to begin the day.

Sunset Beach Dining: Casual or Elegant, You Choose

As day fades to night, the beach at Angsana Velavaru effortlessly becomes a relaxed dining destination. Guests can choose from two very different yet equally memorable experiences:

A laid-back beach barbecue, complete with freshly grilled seafood and your toes in the sand
A more refined lobster dinner, served under candlelight with the sound of the ocean as your soundtrack

Either way, every evening meal creates a personal and unhurried atmosphere. It’s a quiet celebration of time, place, and connection.

Dine Over the Water on the V Deck

For something more dramatic, the resort sets dinner on the V Deck, a floating platform in the heart of the lagoon. Surrounded by nothing but sea and open sky, the setting suits couples or anyone marking a special occasion.

And honestly? This kind of atmosphere stays with you long after dessert.

Private Rooftop Dining at the InOcean Villas

If you’re after privacy and something a little different, guests staying in the InOcean Pool Villas can enjoy rooftop dining, a quiet, elevated spot above the ocean where stars shine overhead and a gentle breeze keeps things cool. The resort’s culinary team prepares each meal with care and serves it with warm, unobtrusive hospitality.

Get Hands-On with Maldivian Flavours

Now, if you’re curious about local cuisine, you can take a private cooking class at Funa, the resort’s open-air restaurant. With guidance from the resort’s chef, you’ll learn how to prepare traditional Maldivian dishes using fresh, local ingredients.

It’s not just about the food. This experience offers a relaxed and enriching way to connect with the culture through flavour and technique.

Why These Dining Experiences Matter

At Angsana Velavaru, dining goes beyond the food. It becomes a way to experience the Maldives on a deeper level. Each setting, whether beachfront, poolside, or rooftop reflects the resort’s approach to hospitality: personal, intuitive, and grounded in a strong sense of place.

Of course, food is just the beginning. Beyond dining, the resort invites guests to explore its “101 Things To Do” program, which includes diving lessons, watersports, and indulgent spa treatments. These activities are perfect for those seeking variety and adventure.

So whether you celebrate something big or simply enjoy a quiet evening, every dining moment invites you to share, remember, and savour the experience.

Marriott Introduces MARRIOTT MEDIA: A New Era of Travel Brand Engagement