Marriott

Partnerships in hospitality are like a co-ordinated team in a busy kitchen, with each member playing a vital role to ensure everything runs smoothly. When strengths and expertise combine, the result is a memorable experience for guests and efficient operations behind the scenes.

Marriott has one of the most powerful portfolios in the hospitality industry, with 30 brands and 9,500 hotels operating in 144 countries and territories. To support this scale, it relies on trusted relationships – just like it has with Elavon, which delivers seamless, secure payment transactions that enhance the guest experience and empower hotel teams.

As Marriott’s preferred payments partner in Europe, Elavon plays a vital role in helping the brand deliver on its promise of excellence. The collaboration continues to grow, marked by the November 2024 opening of The Passenger, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Salzburg – the 500th Marriott property onboarded with Elavon.

Onboarding and training

Onboarding is another critical area where Elavon’s support shines. “It's really crucial that hotels are onboarded consistently: we want to make sure that everything is set up correctly for all the hotels,” says Gordon. “It's of particular importance for an opening hotel that the merchant IDs are ready and available to transact at the right point.”

Marriott’s 500th property with Elavon, The Passenger Hotel in Salzburg, felt this benefit as it prepared to open its doors to guests. Located in the Austrian capital at the foothills of the Alps, the hotel has 120 guestrooms, seven conference rooms, a restaurant with 100 seats and a busy bar.

Marriott's preferred payments partner in Europe

Cost efficiency is a top priority for Marriott, and Elavon plays a key role in helping hotels manage payment-related expenses. “Keeping hotel operating costs low is one of our key priorities – whether it’s interchange fees, cross-border fees or acquirer markups,” explains Sudhir.

“Elavon has been a great partner, working with us to keep card commission charges as low as possible for our hotels.”

Hemlata Narasimhan, president of Elavon Europe, outlines how much Elavon values the relationship: “Marriott sets the bar for excellence in hospitality, so being its payments partner is a responsibility we take seriously,” she says.

“Marriott and Elavon share common values, in terms of a commitment to excellence, consistency and customer focus. That makes us delighted to be Marriott’s preferred payments partner in Europe. We’re not just a vendor: we’re a partner invested in Marriott’s success.”

Reflecting on the strength of the collaboration, Marriott is looking to the future. “Elavon has demonstrated deep understanding of the requirements of hotels in our region. They’ve been an outstanding partner in this journey,” Sudhir confirms.

“Elavon’s commitment, and the engagement they’ve provided to Marriott, has really helped to strengthen this partnership. We look forward to what we’re going to achieve in the next years to come.”