marriott.com 2007 online revenues at USD 5.2 billion

This was reported in the Digital Life section of the Singapore Straits times (registration required).

"Marriott.com rings up the tills"

- In 2008, Marriott.com achieved sales of USD 5.2billion which represents a 28% increase over 2006.

JN: Alright so we did not do USD 5.2 billion. We kinda did 1% of that. But hey we got 50% increase over 2006. B-okay?

- George Corbin, VP of eCommerce: "Five years ago, online sales contributed to 5-8 percent of our revenue. Last year, it was 20%."

JN: I would have to assume that these are direct sales excluding any OTA sales. The industry is expected to average 28% in TOTAL online sales in 2007.

- Marriott.com's booking is at "2,000 per hour, and more bookings are done online than through the phone".

JN: D@mn Yo! I would be lucky to have that many reservations PER DAY! OK. so they got 3,000 properties versus M & C's 90. So let's see, by their standards, we should be gettin' :
2000 res per hour X (90 hotels / 3000 hotels) X 24 hour per day = 1,440 reservations per day.

JN: We have a got a long way to go. Oh yes, would be nice to have a better brand like Marriott too.

- GC again: "We are the eighth largest Internet Consumer retail site and we actually sell more than HP and Dell on their Websites"

JN: I wonder where IHG is then. I would assume they do more...

- Over 70% of customers are actually registered members of its rewards programme.

JN: That's one for you CRM peeps. Read it and weep - 'cos I am.

- The confirmation/welcome email "also has information about local attractions, travel alerts and a virtual concierge service which lets customers personalise their stay."

JN: Huh...huh... WAAAAHHHH.... WAAAHHHHH... I want.... I want.... WAAAAAHHHHH...

JN: Sorry about that. Envy is one of the seven deadly sins. I have been lusting after those functionalities too. Ok so that's two. But we have been too lazy to do it (sloth). In any case, we don't need it anyway (pride). Maybe Greed will eventually help us get there. hehehehe...

- GC: "The customer is interacting with an interface that is 35cm by 35cm and that drives over USD 5 billion a year. That space has very big impact."

JN: Could not agree more. Move over Walmart. Online is measuring "shelfspace" by millions of $ per cm, not hundreds of dollars per foot.