Marriott International has signed the first hotels to its Autograph Collection.
The seven hotels in the Kessler Collection are set to join the portfolio by the end of April, and Marriott said it hopes to add as many as 50 hotels to the Autograph Collection this year.
Executives say there is intense interest from independent hotels, as the collection allows them to become Marriott franchises without having to give up their unique features and identity. By joining the collection, the properties become part of the Marriott reservation system and rewards program.
Don Semmler, Marriott’s executive vice president of global brand management, said the Autograph Collection will be global and will include a variety of categories of properties, from historic to urban chic, even resorts and casinos.
"Think of it as a smart phone with apps," Semmler said.
Richard Kessler, CEO of the Kessler Collection, said the collection gives his hotels tremendous opportunities to leverage Marriott’s global reservations system and sales and marketing platforms.