SPIN’s Marriott Petition – A Strong Statement

SPIN:Senior Planners Industry Network announces the results of their petition asking Marriott for commission parity for all intermediaries. While many of the respondents felt the commission reduction was unfair, they all agreed that if it is to be lowered, it should apply evenly to all. “Our members are angry and many noted that this will influence their site choices,” said SPIN Founder, Shawna Suckow.

484 people responded to the petition and the respondents were a good representation of SPIN’s membership: over 80% female, 84% third- party or independent planners and 59% small business owners. “Our members have lots of influence in where meetings are placed, said SPIN Executive Director, Tracey Smith. Those who responded account for $1.226 Billion in annual bookings – and that’s just a fraction of our membership. This discussion is not going away anytime soon.”

Third-Party Planners Provide Value

Many of the respondents noted that engaged planners provide so much value to clients, doing far more than simply blocking guest rooms.  One person said “most of us are involved in every step of meetings… we are intermediaries between the hotel and client from site selection until the last person has checked out. We don't just walk away when the contract is signed. We deserve to be recognized for the invaluable support we provide the hotel team throughout the process.”

Another respondent said, “Customer service includes servicing those who partner with you, not only the end user. This decision is short-sighted. It's good on paper, but bad for relationships, which is the cornerstone of the hospitality industry.”

About SPIN

SPIN:Senior Planners Industry Network is the world’s largest association for senior-level planners. SPIN has recently invited all hospitality professionals who have at least 10 years of experience to join their ranks.

For more information:
Carolyn Browning, Director of Communications, SPIN – crb@carolynbrowning.com
Tracey Smith, Executive Director, SPIN – tracey@spinplanners.com

www.SPINplanners.com