Marriott to acquire an affordable Latin American hotel brand, bringing its total to 31

Hotel brand bloat doesn’t appear to be a weight problem that’s going away anytime soon. Marriott International made a surprising brand addition Wednesday by announcing a $100 million deal with Mexico-based Hoteles City Express. The deal positions Marriott to acquire the brand family of City Express, a chain of affordable midscale hotels located across Latin America. It also puts…

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Marriott introduces new lifetime elite dashboard, shares most popular cities and hotels for award stays

Marriott Bonvoy lifetime elite status is popular with many travelers, especially since the elite night credits you can earn with select Marriott Bonvoy credit cards count as qualifying nights for elite status and lifetime status. Plus, Marriott counts award nights as qualifying nights for lifetime elite status. Now, some lifetime Marriott members are getting a few new benefits. A Marriott…

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Ultimate guide to cruise ship cabanas

Cruise ship cabanas (and cabanas at cruise line private islands and port destinations) are an easy way to upgrade your cruise experience. They provide a semi-private spot to call your own for the day — or even for the length of your cruise in some cases. Having a cabana rented in advance takes some of the stress out of…

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