Marriott Intl (NASDAQ:MAR) Stock, Quote.Headers.trade-ideas

Marriott Intl

Marriott International

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Marriott operates 1.7 million rooms across roughly 30 brands. At the end of 2023, luxury represented roughly 10% of total rooms, premium 42%, select service was 46%, midscale 1%, and other 1%. Marriott, Courtyard, and Sheraton are the largest brands, while Autograph, Tribute, Moxy, Aloft, and Element are newer lifestyle brands. Managed and franchised represented 97% of total rooms as of Dec. 31, 2023. North America makes up 63% of total rooms. Managed, franchise, and incentive fees represent the vast majority of revenue and profitability for the company.

Marriot International

Perplexity AI

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Tech

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GOOG

GOOGL

Perplexity AI, backed by Jeff Bezos, is in talks with major brands like Nike and Marriott to launch a &#34;sponsored&#34; question ad system by year-end, aiming to challenge Google&#39;s $300 billion digital ads dominance with a more cost-effective model.

Jeff Bezos-Backed Perplexity AI In Discussion With Marriott And Nike As It Prepares To Challenge To Google&#39;s Dominance

fed ai5

Macro Economic Events

Sector ETFs

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

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ETFs

$BTC

$ETH

SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust

iShares Trust Barclays 20+ Year Treasury Bond Fund

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with additional information. 

S&amp;P 500, Gold Strike All-Time Highs, Small Caps Rally After Fed Slashes Interest Rates For First Time In 4 Years (UPDATED)

Equities

Large Cap

Mid Cap

FTNT

NVDA

ORCL

SBUX

SCHW

Investors are anticipating the first cut to the federal funds rate in over four years at the September FOMC meeting. The market is divided on the magnitude of the cut, which could trigger significant reactions. Goldman Sachs data reveals the top S&amp;P 500 stocks to watch during Fed easing cycles.

20 S&amp;P 500 Stocks That Move The Most When The Fed Starts Cutting Interest Rates

Marriott International - Class A Common Stock

Marriott International Inc

MARA Holdings Inc

First Trust Merger Arbitrage ETF

MARIMACA COPPER CORP by Marimaca Copper Corp.

Marimaca Copper Corp

REMARK HOLDINGS INC by Remark Holdings, Inc.

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Marston's PLC

Jeff Bezos-backed Perplexity AI, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37421021/this-jeff-bezos-backed-ai-tool-can-replace-search-engine-for-many-people-says-top-ex-googler-but-the">a&nbsp;startup challenging</a>&nbsp;Alphabet Inc.‘s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google, is in discussions with top brands like Nike Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>) and Marriott International (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAR#NASDAQ">MAR</a>).
What Happened: Perplexity&nbsp;is developing a &#8220;sponsored&#8221; question system to challenge Google&#8217;s auction-based ads model, as it plans to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40523773/jeff-bezos-backed-perplexity-ai-gears-up-to-integrate-ads-in-search-results-taking-a-leaf-out-of-goo">disrupt the tech giant&#8217;s dominance</a> in&nbsp;the $300 billion digital ads industry, <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/ecf299f4-e0a9-468b-af06-8a94e5f0b1f4">reported</a> Financial Times.
The San Francisco-based startup has been in talks with a select group of top-tier companies, including&nbsp;Nike&nbsp;and&nbsp;Marriott, with plans to launch the ads system by year-end.
Perplexity&#8217;s new model allows brands to bid for a &#8220;sponsored&#8221; question featuring&nbsp;an AI-generated answer approved by&nbsp;the advertiser.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/05/32623067/how-to-take-the-perfect-moon-shot-using-an-iphone-14?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How To Take The Perfect Moon Shot Using An iPhone 15</a>
Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas, a former Google intern, stated, &#8220;Ads are really useful when they are relevant and coming from brands that are high quality, and a lot of people make purchases based on that.&#8221;
Srinivas expressed his ambition for the advertising system to become &#8220;a money-printing machine.&#8221;
The startup&#8217;s ad system will charge marketers on a CPM basis, costing&nbsp;above $50 for every 1,000&nbsp;impressions generated by these sponsored&nbsp;posts.
This is in stark contrast to Google&#8217;s&nbsp;estimated $1,100 for the same&nbsp;number of impressions, the report noted.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters:&nbsp;In April earlier this year, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/04/38398735/jeff-bezos-backed-perplexity-ai-is-now-a-unicorn-after-latest-fundraise-softbanks-masayoshi-son-nvid">Perplexity&nbsp;became a unicorn</a>, following a successful funding round that more than doubled its valuation to over $1 billion.
The startup&#8217;s revenue and usage have grown 700% since the start of the year, with the AI-powered search engine answering about <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/entrepreneurship/24/08/40292703/perplexity-ais-revenue-usage-skyrocket-as-it-enters-into-advertising">250 million questions in the last month</a>, up from 500 million queries for all of last year.
Perplexity investors include AI chipmaker&nbsp;Nvidia Corporation, Amazon&nbsp;founder&nbsp;Bezos,&nbsp;OpenAI&nbsp;co-founder&nbsp;Andrej Karpathy, and&nbsp;Meta Platform Inc.&#8216;s chief AI scientist&nbsp;Yann LeCun.
In June, Forbes and Wired accused Perplexity of plagiarism, alleging that the AI startup replicated articles without proper attribution and accessed websites that had specifically blocked its crawlers.
Perplexity acknowledged the claims in response, stating that the company had updated its user interface to highlight citations more clearly and adjusted its system to avoid summarizing content from such websites.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40851084/mark-cuban-was-once-tending-a-bar-in-dallas-but-quickly-realized-he-wasnt-great-at-working-for-peopl?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Cuban Was Once Tending A Bar In Dallas But Quickly Realized He Wasn&#8217;t Great At Working For People</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Jeff Bezos-Backed Perplexity AI In Discussion With Marriott And Nike As It Prepares To Challenge To Google's Dominance

WIIM

ABNB

RYAAY

Shares of travel and hotel-related stocks are trading higher following Wednesday's Fed rate cut. Lower rates could stimulate growth and boost consumer spending.

Editor&#8217;s note: This story has been updated with additional information. 
Markets are bouncing Wednesday afternoon following the Federal Reserve&#8217;s decision to cut rates by 0.5%, marking the beginning of the central bank&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40918078/is-the-fed-playing-with-fire-we-see-greater-risk-of-an-overheating-economy-as-they-">highly anticipated cutting cycle</a>.
What To Know: Wednesday&#8217;s&nbsp;0.5% rate cut brings the&nbsp;target fed funds rate&nbsp;to a new range&nbsp;between 4.75% and 5%, down from a 23-year high of 5.25% to 5.5%. It&#8217;s also the first rate cut since March 2020.
The fed funds rate has been sitting at a range between&nbsp;5.25% and 5.5%&nbsp;since the central bank last hiked in July 2023.
The SPDR S&amp;P 500 (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), which tracks the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/s-p-500">S&amp;P 500</a> index, was up 0.44% at all-time highs at last check, led higher by a variety of names like Arm Holdings Plc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARM#NASDAQ">ARM</a>), The Trade Desk Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TTD#NASDAQ">TTD</a>) Toyota Motor Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TM#NYSE">TM</a>), General Motors Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>) and Marriott International (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAR#NASDAQ">MAR</a>).
The materials sector, as tracked by the Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLB#NYSE">XLB</a>), was showing the most strength at the time of writing, climbing approximately 0.6% following the Fed decision. The energy sector, tracked by the Energy&nbsp;Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLE#NYSE">XLE</a>), was the weakest, down 0.3% following the rate cut. Energy stocks had performed well on Wednesday ahead of the Fed decision, which may explain some of the relative weakness in afternoon trading.
Here&#8217;s a look at how various ETFs tracking the price-weighted Dow Jones Industrial Average, tech stocks, small caps, treasuries and gold are faring following the Fed&#8217;s latest move.
<ul>
<li>SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>): up 0.38% at $418.87.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>): up 0.59% at $476.25.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>IShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IWM#NYSE">IWM</a>): up 2.31% at $224.36. Small caps outperformed broader markets ahead of the rate cut and continued to outperform in afternoon trading.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>IShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TLT#NASDAQ">TLT</a>): down 0.36% at $100.48.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>): up 0.66% at $239.02. Gold hit all-time highs following the Fed&#8217;s rate decision.</li>
</ul>
It&#8217;s also worth noting that crypto markets are volatile following the Fed decision on rates. Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) was down 0.86% over a 24-hour period, trading at $60,480, but well off its lows for the day, and Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) was down 1.79% at $2,322. 
Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/09/40926026/federal-reserve-delivers-bold-0-5-rate-cut-signals-further-easing-ahead">Federal Reserve Delivers Bold 0.5% Rate Cut, Signals Further Easing Ahead</a>
The increased volatility is likely a result of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40883274/senator-warren-urges-fed-to-slash-rates-by-0-75-veteran-investor-warns-even-0-5-cut">uncertainty heading into the meeting</a>. According to CME&#8217;s <a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html">FedWatch tool</a>, the market was projecting a 61% chance of a larger 0.5% rate cut heading into the meeting versus a 39% chance of a smaller 0.25% cut.
As reported by Benzinga, the updated quarterly Dot Plot, which helps signal the Fed&#8217;s future policy intentions, indicates a more aggressive path for rate cuts than previously projected following Wednesday&#8217;s 0.5% cut. The median projection now calls for a total of 1% in rate cuts in 2024.
SPY Price Action: At the time of publication, the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SPY">SPDR S&amp;P 500</a> was up 0.44%, trading at $565.62, according to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/09/40908202/10-etfs-investors-secretly-bought-before-the-feds-make-or-break-interest-rate-cal">10 ETFs Investors Secretly Bought Before The Fed&#8217;s Make-Or-Break Interest Rate Call</a></li>
</ul>
Watch Fed Chair Jerome Powell&#8216;s press conference here: 
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> 
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<iframe loading="lazy" title="&#x1f534;WATCH LIVE: Jerome Powell Speaks, FOMC Press Conference &#x7C; September 18th, 2024" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qVdXli47cWk?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</figure>
This illustration was generated using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

S&P 500, Gold Strike All-Time Highs, Small Caps Rally After Fed Slashes Interest Rates For First Time In 4 Years (UPDATED)

Goldman Sachs analyst Lizzie Dove initiates coverage on Marriott Intl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAR#NASDAQ">MAR</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $267.

Price Target

Initiation

Analyst Ratings

Goldman Sachs Initiates Coverage On Marriott Intl with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $267

Marriott CEO Says Company Is Monitoring Whether Spending Slowdown From Lower-Income Travelers Is Temporary Or A Longer-Term Trend

Investors are on edge in the lead-up to the Wednesday Federal Open Market Committee interest rate decision that is expected to deliver the first cut to the federal funds rate <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40921827/fed-decision-is-here-5-things-investors-need-to-know-ahead-of-wednesdays-pivotal-in">in over four years.</a>
The market is divided on the magnitude of the anticipated rate cut. Traders are assigning a 59% probability to a 50-basis-point cut, while a 41% chance is placed on a more modest 25-basis-point reduction. The size of the rate cut is crucial as it could trigger significant market reactions.
Should the Fed opt for a 50-basis-point cut, it may be perceived as an acknowledgment that interest rates are overly restrictive. This could lead to increased expectations for further rate cuts in the coming months, potentially fueling risk sentiment and driving stock prices higher.
Conversely, a 25-basis-point cut might disappoint investors who are betting on a more aggressive measure.
Since the start of 2022, the S&amp;P 500, tracked by the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), has experienced an average move of plus or minus 1.3% during FOMC events, reflecting the market&#8217;s high sensitivity to Fed policy decisions.
Goldman Sachs equity analysts, including John Marshall, analyzed stock movements during the first rate cuts in the previous three Fed easing cycles (Sept. 18, 2007, July 31, 2019 and March 3, 2020).
The data highlights the average moves of several key S&amp;P 500 stocks with liquid options during these periods.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th>
<th>Name</th>
<th>Absolute Average Move</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td>Caesars Entertainment Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CZR#NASDAQ">CZR</a>)</td>
<td>5.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2</td>
<td>Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)</td>
<td>5.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td>Capital One Financial Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COF#NYSE">COF</a>)</td>
<td>4.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td>Charles Schwab Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHW#NYSE">SCHW</a>)</td>
<td>4.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>5</td>
<td>Mastercard Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>)</td>
<td>4.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>6</td>
<td>Fortinet Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FTNT#NASDAQ">FTNT</a>)</td>
<td>4.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>7</td>
<td>Marriott International (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAR#NASDAQ">MAR</a>)</td>
<td>4.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td>American Express Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXP#NYSE">AXP</a>)</td>
<td>3.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td>Newmont Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NEM#NYSE">NEM</a>)</td>
<td>3.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td>Deere &amp; Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DE#NYSE">DE</a>)</td>
<td>3.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11</td>
<td>BlackRock Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLK#NYSE">BLK</a>)</td>
<td>3.6%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12</td>
<td>Texas Instruments Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TXN#NASDAQ">TXN</a>)</td>
<td>3.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>13</td>
<td>3M Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MMM#NYSE">MMM</a>)</td>
<td>3.3%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14</td>
<td>Bank of America Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>)</td>
<td>3.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>15</td>
<td>JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>)</td>
<td>3.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>16</td>
<td>Oracle Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NYSE">ORCL</a>)</td>
<td>3.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>17</td>
<td>Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABT#NYSE">ABT</a>)</td>
<td>3.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>18</td>
<td>Starbucks Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SBUX#NASDAQ">SBUX</a>)</td>
<td>2.9%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19</td>
<td>Visa Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>)</td>
<td>2.7%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>20</td>
<td>Verizon Communications Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>)</td>
<td>2.3%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/09/40908202/10-etfs-investors-secretly-bought-before-the-feds-make-or-break-interest-rate-cal">10 ETFs Investors Secretly Bought Before The Fed&#8217;s Make-Or-Break Interest Rate Call</a></li>
</ul>
Federal Reserve illustration created using artificial intelligence via MidJourney.

20 S&P 500 Stocks That Move The Most When The Fed Starts Cutting Interest Rates

Following the tumultuous start to the decade for hospitality stocks, it's likely that leading Wall Street players and investors alike will be on high alert for the next curveball thrown at the industry. Now, as volatility returns to global markets, it appears that innovative hospitality firms are intent on staying one step ahead of other industries.&nbsp;
The re-emergence of recession fears throughout Wall Street in early August saw global markets plummet, with significant ramifications for hospitality stocks.&nbsp;
Owing to weaker-than-expected data from the US jobs market and creeping unemployment data, the S&amp;P 500 tumbled as much as 8% from its July peak and has so far failed to recover its losses in any meaningful way.&nbsp;
Recent data emanating from hotel stocks points to a mixed bag for the industry. Leading firms like Marriott (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAR#NASDAQ">MAR</a>), Wyndham (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WH#NYSE">WH</a>), and hotel REITs have been showing signs of weakening revenue per available room in recent months, but other data sets show hospitality services growing well into the year. 
According to Truist Securities&#8217; analysis of the gross operating profits for over 1,000 full-service and luxury US hotels, figures have been just 110 basis points away from recovering to pre-pandemic levels.&nbsp;
Despite falling 2.9% in July, the Baird Hotel Stock Index, which is comprised of the 20 largest hotel brand companies and REITs publicly traded in the US, <a href="https://www.costar.com/article/969975945/global-hotel-brands-keep-pace-with-sp-500-boosting-hotel-stock-index-in-august">recovered by 2.1% in August</a>. The index has risen in two of the past three months and five of the first eight months of 2024.&nbsp;
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Recapturing Pre-Pandemic Momentum</h3>
Recent years have been punctuated by the pursuit of hospitality firms to recapture momentum lost in the Covid-19 pandemic.&nbsp;
IMF estimates suggest that the global economy <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51706225">shrank by 4.4% in 2020</a>, with disruptions to travel and tourism impacting hospitality firms for many years after the initial outbreak.&nbsp;
Statista's July forecasts anticipated that 2024 will finally be the year that sees travel and tourism's contribution to global gross domestic product (GDP) <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/233223/travel-and-tourism-total-economic-contribution-worldwide/">surpass pre-pandemic levels</a>, but the emergence of new recession fears in the US could impact the industry's recovery.&nbsp;
This year was supposed to be a watershed moment in the recovery of the hospitality industry after an excellent 2023. It may well be a strong innovation pipeline that helps the sector's brightest stocks to continue to shine in the face of recession jitters.&nbsp;
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Embracing Innovation</h3>
Moving into the 2023 festive season, global lodging C corporations like Marriott International, Wyndham Hotels &amp; Resorts, Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Choice Hotels International, and Hyatt Hotels had <a href="https://www.barrons.com/articles/hotel-stocks-sp500-beating-884a1eba">rallied an average of 26%</a>, outpacing the S&amp;P 500's 18.5% rise over the same calendar year.&nbsp;
One of the industry's biggest stars in 2023 was Marriott, which grew 40.4% off the back of <a href="https://www.euronews.com/business/2023/12/28/why-betting-on-the-travel-sector-paid-off-big-this-year">strong future growth prospects</a> and renovation initiatives through the Latin America and Caribbean regions as well as posting growth in safari markets throughout Africa.&nbsp;
Marriott's 2024 performance, however, has been far more stagnant despite positive forecasts for the hospitality industry's post-pandemic recovery. The stock fell 17% from its July peak in the wake of August's Wall Street collapse and ended the second quarter 3.8% lower.&nbsp;
Despite a more volatile year, 2024 may yet become the watershed year commentators are hoping for thanks to firms like Marriott embracing new technologies to further optimize their operations.&nbsp;
May 2024 saw Homes &amp; Villas by Marriott Bonvoy, a vacation rentals initiative from Marriott, launch a <a href="https://www.consultancy.uk/news/37405/publicis-sapient-helps-marriott-bonvoy-launch-gen-ai-travel-tool">generative AI search tool</a> designed to help users more comprehensively explore their vacation options.&nbsp;
Utilizing Microsoft's Azure OpenAI technology, the tool uses natural language processing to curate the perfect accommodation to match customers with the ideal holiday and hospitality experience from the firm's catalog of 140,000 homes and villas.&nbsp;
The platform is set to improve the vacation experience for travelers worldwide and could help to transform customer satisfaction.&nbsp;
Similar technologies are helping to collaborate with human hospitality staff to drive AI-based task automation, personalization, and guest interactions to bolster hospitality customer experience models.&nbsp;
This technology hinges on the collection of structured and unstructured data from integrated point-of-sale (POS) insights and other Internet of Things (IoT) integrations alongside social listening to deliver more bespoke experiences for guests. 
It's through embracing AI that can help hospitality stocks avoid experiencing weakness amid wider stock market uncertainty and facilitate growth as the Q4 holiday season uncovers fresh revenue opportunities.&nbsp;
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Navigating Uncertainty</h3>
Just as the challenges faced in the wake of the pandemic continue to disappear in the rear-view mirror, hospitality stocks have been dealt a new series of challenges as <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/09/40718185/could-august-jobs-numbers-keep-recession-fears-at-bay-this-time-is-different-analys">US recession fears</a> threaten to impact consumer spending power.&nbsp;
With market volatility unlikely to subside soon, leading hospitality stocks may seek solace in innovative new technologies to help secure more sustainable growth in the post-pandemic landscape.&nbsp;
In opting to nurture experience-enhancing technology, we could see more outperformance in comparison to the S&amp;P 500 in late 2024 and 2025 relative to the impressive market rallies of hospitality firms in 2023.&nbsp;
It's this commitment to adaptability that can help hospitality firms endure the challenges of the future while continuing to thrive amid wider market uncertainty.
On the date of publication, Dmytro Spilka did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer. Dmytro Spilka does not intend to make a trade in any of the securities mentioned above in the next 72 hours.

General

Hospitality Stocks Out-Innovate Challenges As Sector Keeps Pace with S&P 500

Global

Marriott CEO Says Ability To Build Aggressive Pricing Strategy Impacted By Short Booking Window In Greater China

Marriott CEO Says Booking Window In Greater China Is Currently Under 3 Days, As Short As He Has Ever Seen

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>AMZN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/06/24</td>
<td>$185.00</td>
<td>$28.2K</td>
<td>9.9K</td>
<td>12.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TSLA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/06/24</td>
<td>$212.50</td>
<td>$28.7K</td>
<td>5.2K</td>
<td>11.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PDD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/06/24</td>
<td>$101.00</td>
<td>$31.4K</td>
<td>3.4K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DPZ</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/06/24</td>
<td>$417.50</td>
<td>$35.2K</td>
<td>718</td>
<td>693</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$49.00</td>
<td>$87.1K</td>
<td>2.1K</td>
<td>659</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MAR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$220.00</td>
<td>$92.5K</td>
<td>17</td>
<td>330</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GME</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$23.00</td>
<td>$57.0K</td>
<td>1.8K</td>
<td>158</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NKE</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$85.00</td>
<td>$41.7K</td>
<td>3.1K</td>
<td>57</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DRI</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/20/24</td>
<td>$160.00</td>
<td>$25.4K</td>
<td>57</td>
<td>53</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• For AMZN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 3 day(s) on September 6, 2024. This event was a transfer of 2002 contract(s) at a $185.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 25 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.2K, with a price of $14.0 per contract. There were 9976 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 12377 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding TSLA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 3 day(s) on September 6, 2024. Parties traded 50 contract(s) at a $212.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 3 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.7K, with a price of $575.0 per contract. There were 5290 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 11615 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding PDD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 3 day(s) on September 6, 2024. Parties traded 476 contract(s) at a $101.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $31.4K, with a price of $66.0 per contract. There were 3487 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1646 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For DPZ (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DPZ#NYSE">DPZ</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 3 day(s) on September 6, 2024. This event was a transfer of 32 contract(s) at a $417.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $35.2K, with a price of $1100.0 per contract. There were 718 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 693 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding GM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GM#NYSE">GM</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 45 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 400 contract(s) at a $49.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 7 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $87.1K, with a price of $218.0 per contract. There were 2166 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 659 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding MAR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAR#NASDAQ">MAR</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 73 day(s) on November 15, 2024. Parties traded 47 contract(s) at a $220.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $92.5K, with a price of $1970.0 per contract. There were 17 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 330 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding GME (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GME#NYSE">GME</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 136 day(s) on January 17, 2025. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $23.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $57.0K, with a price of $570.0 per contract. There were 1820 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 158 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For NKE (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 290 day(s) on June 20, 2025. This event was a transfer of 50 contract(s) at a $85.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $41.7K, with a price of $835.0 per contract. There were 3172 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 57 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding DRI (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DRI#NYSE">DRI</a>), we observe a put option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 17 day(s) on September 20, 2024. Parties traded 52 contract(s) at a $160.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.4K, with a price of $490.0 per contract. There were 57 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 53 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Options

AMZN

Citigourp Global Markets 2% Protected Notes Linked To The Djia

TSLA

9 Consumer Discretionary Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

Marriott Intl's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAR#NYSE">MAR</a>) short percent of float has risen 5.53% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 5.83 million shares sold short, which is 2.67% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.65 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Marriott Intl Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1725307220_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Marriott Intl has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Marriott Intl's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Marriott Intl's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 7.13%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Trading Ideas

How Is The Market Feeling About Marriott Intl?

Bernstein analyst Richard Clarke upgrades Marriott Intl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAR#NASDAQ">MAR</a>) from Market Perform to Outperform and announces $262 price target.

Upgrades

Bernstein Upgrades Marriott Intl to Outperform, Announces $262 Price Target

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mar#NASDAQ">MAR</a>) is likely to benefit from solid leisure demand, a loyalty program and unit-expansion efforts. The focus on hotel conversions bodes well. However, soft demand in China is a concern.
Let us discuss the factors that highlight why investors should retain the stock for now.
<h2>Growth Catalysts</h2>
Marriott has been gaining from pent-up leisure demand. In second-quarter 2024, the company posted RevPAR growth across all customer segments &mdash; group, leisure transient and business transient &mdash; with increases in room nights and ADR. Group business, accounting for 24% of worldwide room nights, remained the strongest segment, with group RevPAR up 10% year over year.
The company witnessed robust demand during second-quarter 2024. The company&#39;s net rooms grew 6% year over year. In comparison, global RevPAR increased nearly 5%, supported by a 3% rise in the average daily rate and an occupancy increase of approximately 150 basis points, reaching 73%.
MAR&#39;s global RevPAR index continues to rise, reflecting its strong position in the market. RevPAR in the United States and Canada saw a nearly 4% gain, aided by the shift of the Easter holiday, with all chain scales from select service to luxury reporting positive growth. Internationally, RevPAR rose more than 7%, led by a 13% increase in Asia Pacific (excluding China). The upside was backed by robust macro trends and increased cross-border travel, particularly from Mainland China. Japan, in particular, saw a 21% rise in RevPAR. The EMEA region reported nearly 10% growth, while CALA posted a 9% increase. The company expects global RevPAR to rise 3-4% year over year in the second quarter and full year in 2024.
The company continues to enhance its Bonvoy loyalty program, which now has more than 210 million members (as of second-quarter 2024). It launched Business Access by Marriott Bonvoy, a comprehensive online travel program targeting small- and medium-sized corporate clients. The initial adoption of the platform exceeded expectations. In addition, partnerships with Rakuten in Japan, Alibaba in China and Rappi in CALA continue to drive strong international Bonvoy enrollments. During the second quarter, the program&#39;s global room night penetration reached 71% in the United States and Canada and 65% worldwide.
Marriott&#39;s global portfolio continues to grow faster than the overall industry supply, adding approximately 15,500 net rooms in the second quarter. Signing activity remains strong, particularly in APEC and Greater China, contributing to a pipeline of more than 559,000 rooms. Conversions played a significant role, representing 37% of openings and 32% of signings. Construction starts in the United States and Canada rose 40% year over year in the second quarter, reflecting growing development momentum. It expects positive development trends to continue on the back of new development and multiunit conversion opportunities.
<h2>Concerns</h2>
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/7b/75340.jpg?v=780158394" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Marriott&#39;s shares have declined 4.8% in the past three months compared with the industry&#39;s 0.8% fall. Softer domestic demand in China primarily caused the downside.
During the second quarter, the company posted dismal performance in China. RevPAR in Greater China dropped approximately 4% due to macroeconomic pressures that led to weaker domestic demand. Additionally, the region saw an uptick in outbound high-end travelers, which further impacted local markets. While there was positive RevPAR growth in Tier 1 cities like Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, these gains were offset by declines across other areas, particularly in Hainan, which experienced a meaningful downturn. The company is cautious about persistent softness in demand and pricing trends in China for the remainder of 2024.
<h2>Our Thoughts</h2>
Marriott offers a balanced mix of growth opportunities and challenges, making it a stock worth holding. Its impressive global RevPAR growth, robust loyalty program and strategic room additions position it for long-term success. MAR&#39;s continued focus on high-growth regions and conversion deals underscores its ability to maintain market leadership and capitalize on leisure demand trends.
However, investors should remain cautious due to the company&#39;s exposure to weaker domestic demand in China, which could put pressure on overall performance. Additionally, Marriott&#39;s current valuation &mdash; with a forward P/E ratio of 22.05X compared with the industry&#39;s 21.80X &mdash; suggests premium pricing that might limit significant upside potential in the near term. While these risks warrant attention, the company&#39;s solid fundamentals and strategic growth initiatives provide enough reasons for investors to retain the stock. The Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) justifies our thesis.
<h2>Key Picks</h2>
Some better-ranked stocks in the Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector are as follows:
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/rcl#NYSE">RCL</a>) currently sports a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy).
RCL has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 18.5%, on average. The stock has rallied 65.9% in the past year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RCL&#39;s 2024 sales and earnings per share calls for growth of 18.1% and 69.9%, respectively, from the year-ago levels.
DoubleDown Interactive Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ddi#NASDAQ">DDI</a>) currently flaunts a Zacks Rank of 1. DDI has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 22.1%, on average. The stock has surged 52.3% in the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DDI&#39;s 2024 sales and EPS indicates an increase of 12.6% and 15.8%, respectively, from the year-ago levels.
Monarch Casino &amp; Resort, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mcri#NASDAQ">MCRI</a>) currently flaunts a Zacks Rank of 1. MCRI has a trailing four-quarter negative earnings surprise of 3.5%, on average. The stock has increased 11.1% in the past year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for MCRI&#39;s 2024 sales and EPS indicates an increase of 2.3% and 10%, respectively, from the year-ago levels.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2327129/here-s-why-you-should-retain-marriott-mar-in-your-portfolio?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|rank_focused-2327129">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Earnings

MCRI

Here's Why You Should Retain Marriott in Your Portfolio

Marriot will add Sonder's portfolio of mostly apartment-style accommodations to its system under a novel collection titled "Sonder by Marriott Bonvoy."
Sonder Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOND#NASDAQ">SOND</a>) shares jumped more than 125% Monday after the company announced a long-term licensing agreement <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/wiim/24/08/40439996/sonder-shares-are-trading-higher-after-the-company-announced-a-long-term-licensing-agreement-with-ma">with Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAR#NASDAQ">MAR</a>)</a>.
What To Know: Through the licensing agreement, Marriot will add Sonder&#8217;s portfolio of mostly apartment-style accommodations to its system under a novel collection titled &#8220;Sonder by Marriott Bonvoy.&#8221;
Marriott will earn a royalty fee based on a percentage of Sonder&#8217;s gross room revenues. Sonder&#8217;s rooms will gradually be integrated into Marriott&#8217;s system over several years. Additionally, Marriott projects full-year 2024 net room growth to be between 6% and 6.5%.
&#8220;Marriott has long believed in providing the right product at the right price point for all trip purposes and generations of travelers. With the planned addition of Sonder by Marriott Bonvoy, we will be able to provide guests seeking apartment-style urban accommodations with even more options in the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio,&#8221; said Marriott Global Officer, M&amp;A Tim Grisius.
What Else: Sonder has secured about $146 million in new liquidity, consisting of a $43 million convertible preferred equity investment from a group of investors and $83 million from existing noteholders.
The $83 million includes $4 million in recent financing. An additional $20 million comes from other sources. The aforementioned financing is in addition to a previously announced $16 million in financing from noteholders.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/08/40421327/wyndham-expands-south-korea-presence-with-trademark-debut">Wyndham Expands South Korea Presence With Trademark Debut</a>
SOND Price Action: Sonder stock is moving 125.9% higher at $5.92, according to data from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro.</a>
Image: Photo via Shutterstock

SOND

Sonder Holdings Stock Spike On Heels Of Marriott Deal

Through this strategic agreement, over 9,000 live Sonder units are expected to join the Marriott portfolio by the end of 2024, with approximately 1,500 additional contracted units anticipated to join the Marriott system at later dates.
Sonder&#39;s properties, which consist of apartment-style accommodations and intimate boutique hotels, are expected to be fully integrated with Marriott&#39;s extensive distribution channels, and be available for booking on Marriott.com and the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app as a new collection called Sonder by Marriott Bonvoy.&nbsp;
Sonder anticipates that full integration with Marriott&#39;s digital channels and platform will occur in 2025; however, Sonder expects that Marriott.com will include link-offs to Sonder&#39;s digital platforms to support shop, book, earn and redeem by Marriott Bonvoy members and customers before the end of 2024.&nbsp;

Contracts

Sonder Enters Long-term Strategic Licensing Agreement With Marriott; Expects Strategic Agreement To Deliver Significant Revenue Opportunities And Operating Efficiencies

UBS analyst Robin Farley maintains Marriott Intl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAR#NASDAQ">MAR</a>) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $267 to $244.

UBS Maintains Neutral on Marriott Intl, Lowers Price Target to $244

Marriott International (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAR#NASDAQ">MAR</a>) has reportedly initiated legal action against one of its franchisees, accusing the operator of breaching their franchise agreement.
The dispute centers around a property in New York City&#8217;s Jamaica neighborhood, which was supposed to be run as a dual-branded Aloft and Element hotel.
Instead, the franchisee, Pride Hotel LLC, allegedly transformed the property into a migrant shelter under a contract with the City of New York, a move Marriott claims was unauthorized and harmful.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/07/40070674/marriott-shares-drop-5-despite-q2-eps-beat-slashed-fy24-outlook-disappoints-investors" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marriott Shares Drop 5% Despite Q2 EPS Beat; Slashed FY24 Outlook Disappoints Investors</a>.
In a complaint filed in federal court last week, Marriott asserts that Pride Hotel entered into a &#8220;lucrative&#8221; contract with the City of New York without notifying Marriott or removing the company&#8217;s trademarks and branding.
In a Fox Business <a target="_blank" href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/marriott-sues-franchisee-turning-new-york-hotel-migrant-shelter" rel="noreferrer noopener">report</a>, the hotel chain argues that this decision has caused &#8220;significant harm&#8221; to its brand and is seeking over $2.6 million in damages.
The issue of New York City hotels being repurposed as migrant shelters has gained significant attention. The city reportedly spends an average of $156 per room per night to house migrants, with some rooms exceeding $300 per night.
Citing a recent New York Post report, Fox Business adds that New York City has spent about $4.88 billion on the migrant crisis over the last few years, with nearly $2 billion directed towards housing, including shelters in motels and inns.
The legal battle underscores the broader challenges and financial implications for businesses and the city alike as New York grapples with the ongoing migrant crisis.
Price Action: MAR stock is down 0.6% to $214.55 at the last check on Tuesday.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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Photo via Shutterstock

Legal

Marriott Pursues Damages From Franchisee For Unauthorized Hotel Use As Migrant Shelter

Morgan Stanley analyst Stephen Grambling maintains Marriott Intl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAR#NASDAQ">MAR</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $268 to $250.

Morgan Stanley Maintains Overweight on Marriott Intl, Lowers Price Target to $250

Truist Securities analyst Patrick Scholes maintains Marriott Intl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAR#NASDAQ">MAR</a>) with a Hold and lowers the price target from $263 to $254.

Truist Securities Maintains Hold on Marriott Intl, Lowers Price Target to $254

Macquarie analyst Chad Beynon maintains Marriott Intl (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAR#NASDAQ">MAR</a>) with a Neutral and maintains $245 price target.

Macquarie Maintains Neutral on Marriott Intl, Maintains $245 Price Target

Marriott International (MAR – Research Report) received a Buy rating and a $262.00 price target from Bernstein analyst Richard Clarke today. The co...

Bernstein upgrades Marriott International (MAR) to a Buy

Catalyst Watch: August Jobs Report, Intel event, Broadcom earnings, and Costco sales

Hotel workers strike in U.S. during Labor Day weekend

In a major setback for the hospitality industry, thousands of hotel workers across the United States went on a strike over the Labor Day weekend. T...

Hotel Workers Strike Nationwide amid Contract Disputes

The hotel workers strike in the U.S. could expand to new cities this week

Marriott International, Inc. (MAR) BofA Gaming and Lodging Conference (Transcript)

Richard Clarke, an analyst from Bernstein, maintained the Buy rating on Marriott International (MAR – Research Report). The associated price target...

Marriott International's Strategic Midscale Expansion and Growth Catalysts Fuel Buy Rating

Marriott International (MAR – Research Report), the Consumer Cyclical sector company, was revisited by a Wall Street analyst today. Analyst Brandt ...

Maintaining Hold on Marriott: Modest RevPAR Growth and Industry Headwinds

Marriott International attracts new bull rating from Goldman Sachs

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Press Releases

Marriott International Celebrates its 9000TH Property with the Opening of The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort in Florida

Sonder Holdings Inc. Announces Strategic Licensing Agreement with Marriott International

Marriott International Announces Long-Term Licensing Agreement with Sonder, Expected to Add Over 10,500 Rooms to Marriott's Open and Pipeline Portfolio

Commodities

THE RITZ-CARLTON, NAPLES LAUNCHES NEW ENVIRONMENTALLY AWARE OFFERINGS TO ENHANCE THE BELOVED RITZ KIDS EXPERIENCE

Marriott International President and Chief Executive Officer to Speak at Bank of America Gaming and Lodging Conference September 5; Remarks to be Webcast

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Marriott Intl

Marriott Intl (MAR) Forecast

Marriott Intl (NASDAQ:MAR) Stock, Quote.Headers.trade-ideas