Marriott revs up partnership with Mercedes ahead of F1 season

Marriott International has expanded its partnership with Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, making Marriott Bonvoy, formerly known as Marriott Rewards, the team's official hotel loyalty programme.Meanwhile, The Ritz-Carlton will be come the team's official hotel partner. Logos for Marriott Bonvoy and The Ritz-Carlton will appear on the racing suits of the drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, and Marriott Bonvoy will be the team’s first partner brand on the car’s halo. The Ritz-Carlton will also bring its service to the team’s premium at-track VIP hospitality space, the Silver Arrows Lounge.Marriott will promote the partnership through social media, in-room TV and its digital magazine Marriott Bonvoy Traveller. As part of the collaboration, Marriott will also be providing Marriott Bonvoy members with exclusive experiences, including helicopter flights over Albert Park Grand Prix circuit, pit lane walks, hot laps of the circuit, and invitations to the official launch party - Glamour on the Grid - during the Australian Grand Prix week.The experiences also include exclusive Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport hospitality packages, and a meet-and-greet session with Hamilton for the China Grand Prix. These Marriott Bonvoy Moments will be in addition to other member experiences, including behind-the-scenes access with the team over Grand Prix weekends for the ultimate fan selfie, where drivers, media and celebrities hang out, visits to the team garage, and prime viewing venues.“We are delighted to expand our marketing partnership with Marriott International. The extension proves that Formula One keeps growing as a marketing platform for leading global brands who want to further strengthen their brand awareness and value. In addition to access to a huge, global audience, F1 offers the possibility to deliver unique, once-in-a-lifetime experiences to partners and their customers thanks to the equally exciting and exclusive nature of the sport. We are pleased to be delivering those experiences to Marriott Bonvoy members," Toto Wolff, team principal and CEO, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport said.