The hospitality sector has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting hotels globally to explore avenues for revenue recovery. Marriott International and Grab have recently announced a collaborative effort extending across six Southeast Asian nations – Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand – to bolster Marriott’s food and beverage operations.

This agreement between Marriott International deviates from traditional hotel room reservations, centering instead on approximately 600 restaurants and bars situated within its properties throughout the specified Southeast Asian countries. These establishments will progressively become available on GrabFood’s delivery service starting in November. According to a shared statement, this partnership signifies Marriott International’s “initial large-scale integration with a leading super app in Southeast Asia” and Grab’s “most extensive collaboration with a hotel organization thus far.”

Marriott International holds the position of the world’s foremost hotel company. The second quarter of the year saw the company report a $234 million loss due to pandemic-related travel restrictions and event cancellations, a stark contrast to the $232 million profit recorded during the same period the previous year. CEO Arne Sorenson described it as “the most challenging quarter in our history,” although the business is showing signs of improvement within China.

The integration of Marriott and Grab will establish a connection between their respective loyalty programs, enabling the exchange of GrabRewards points for Marriott Bonvoy points, and vice versa. Furthermore, Marriott International’s food and beverage venues accepting GrabPay will gain access to Grab’s Merchant Discovery tools, facilitating targeted promotions to users and utilizing the GrabAds marketing platform.

Grab currently maintains partnerships with other businesses in the hospitality industry, including Booking.com and Klook. Klook, alongside other travel companies, has adapted its focus to accommodate “staycations” – providing leisure options for individuals unable to travel but seeking a respite from their daily lives.