- Marriott, Fitwel to expand wellness for branded residences.
- The collaboration builds on a pilot in Chicago.
- The company plans more Fitwel certifications.
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL IS working with Fitwel to expand wellness offerings across its branded residences. The initiative aligns with the company’s focus on residential experiences through design, amenities and health and wellbeing.
Fitwel, developed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. General Services Administration, is a certification system that evaluates buildings based on their impact on occupant health. This marks Fitwel’s first enterprise agreement and makes Marriott the first hospitality company to achieve Champion+ status, which recognizes organizations that implement wellness solutions across portfolios, Marriott said in a statement.
“As owner expectations continue to evolve, Marriott is focused on shaping residential experiences that encompass thoughtful design, signature amenities and a strong emphasis on wellness,” said John Hearns, Marriott’s senior vice president for global residential operations. “We are proud to be the first hospitality company to partner with Fitwel, an evidence-based certification program, at scale. We are confident this collaboration is a meaningful step in elevating the company’s global branded residential portfolio.”
The collaboration builds on a pilot program at The Ritz-Carlton Residences Chicago, Magnificent Mile, which earned a two-star Fitwel certification, the statement said. Marriott’s Global Headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, opened in 2022 with a 3-star Fitwel certification. It plans to pursue Fitwel certification at additional branded residential properties, with several projects expected to be certified by year-end.
Joanna Frank, president and CEO of the Center for Active Design and Active Design Advisors Inc., said Marriott’s leadership reflects a shift across real estate and hospitality, where health is increasingly viewed as a business strategy tied to value, resilience and customer experience.
“As Fitwel’s first Enterprise Partnership and the first branded residences and hospitality company achieving Fitwel’s Champion+ designation, Marriott is helping set a new global benchmark for how health can be scaled across portfolios in ways that benefit owners, residents, guests, associates and long-term asset performance,” she said.
A recent Wall Street Journal report said a group of Marriott International franchise owners want higher reimbursements for discounted Bonvoy rewards bookings, arguing they bear the costs while Marriott expands its credit card business.
