Marriott to launch Apple Pay at hotels this summer

Marriott International is set to offer Apple Pay to guests at its hotels. The phased roll-out, beginning in the summer, will make the group the first hospitality company to offer the option of guests paying via their Apple devices.

Guests using the app at check-in can bring their iPhone6, iPhone6 Plus, and soon the Apple Watch, near the contactless reader at the hotel’s front desk. The guest’s device will then respond with a subtle vibration to indicate the payment option was successful. The move will eliminate the need to provide a credit card upon check-in.

The phased introduction will begin with brands in popular locations in the US, such as The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park; The Ritz-Carlton Washington D.C.; EDITION Miami; JW Marriott Chicago; Renaissance New York Times Square Hotel; San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront; New York Marriott Downtown; Courtyard Chicago Downtown/North River; and Residence Inn Los Angeles L.A. Live.

Marriott Digital senior vice president George Corbin said: “Approximately 75% of our guests travel with one or more mobile devices, and it is even higher among 25-35 year olds – a group that will make up a much larger proportion of our guests over the next three years. Millions of customers already use Marriott Mobile to quickly book a hotel, check-in, or check out. Now, Apple Pay can make it virtually effortless.”

In 2013, Marriott became the first hotel operator to introduce mobile check-in and check-out on its smartphone app.

The group will also launch an app for the Apple Watch when it is introduced this year. It will allow Marriott Rewards members to check-in and check-out remotely at nearly 4000 hotels globally.