Marriott Executive Apartments general managers Sabreena Jacob and Daryn Hudson spoke to Breaking Travel News

Marriott Executive Apartments has been nominated as Thailand’s Leading Serviced Apartment Brand at the World Travel Awards for the second consecutive year.

Here Breaking Travel News catches up with general managers Sabreena Jacob and Daryn Hudson to discover how the brand stays ahead of its competitors in this ever evolving market.

Breaking Travel News: Perhaps we could start with an overview of Marriott Executive Apartments in Thailand? What does the brand offer in the destination?

Sabreena Jacob, general manager, Marriott Executive Apartments Sukhumvit Park: At the Marriott Executive Apartments we like to say, “You don’t stay here, you live here.” 

We provide the highest levels of service, security and privacy for our guests, with luxurious rooms ranging from studios to three-bedroom apartments.

With fully equipped kitchens and fully furnished living areas, our guests have space to live, work and relax.

Keeping comfort and luxury in mind, we also provide housekeeping and laundry services, food and beverage facilities together with daylight meeting space that is available to cater to all their needs and yet give our guests the feeling of living at “a home away from home!”

With a perfect location in the heart of vibrant Bangkok, Marriott Executive Apartments Sukhumvit Park is within easy walking distance or a short ride in the hotel’s complimentary tuk-tuk to Phrom Phong BTS Skytrain station and the brand new EmQuatier and Emporium shopping complex. 

Keeping guests’ satisfaction as our most utmost priority, we provide great fitness facilities which runs 24 hours, an outdoor saltwater pool, an onsite spa, a simulated golf facility, a designated children’s activity room with pool and courts for tennis, squash and badminton to ensure maximum comfort and convenience for guests.

BTN: Can you tell us a little about the demographics of the guests you welcome to your properties? Do you largely see visitors from Asia, or is it further afield? Do you see mainly of short-stay guests, or do you welcome people for longer stays?

Sabreena Jacob: Marriott Executive Apartments is a luxury serviced apartment brand, designed for travellers staying in the city for a day, a month or more and provides upscale residential living combined with personalised hotel services all backed by the confidence and assurance of Marriott.

At the Marriott Executive Apartments Sukhumvit Park, we see visitors from all over as Bangkok is a very dynamic city with a lot of business potential.

We are very popular with expatriates on temporary assignments or relocation staying either for a short duration or for a year. 

BTN: How would you characterise the Thai hospitality market in mid-2015?

Daryn Hudson, general manger of Marriott Executive Apartments Sathorn Vista: Vibrant, with strong emerging markets like China, Taiwan, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore (short-haul travel)  who want to experience our cultural treats, food, shopping, unique destinations allowing them to take home lifetime memories.

BTN: Do you feel travellers generally are becoming more aware of the advantages of serviced apartments, when compared to traditional hotels?

Daryn Hudson: Yes, with today’s use of social media allowing guests to share their travel experiences through written and pictures, services apartments have had more awareness with many millennial travellers enjoying shared apartments while they still can experience excellent services and full facilities.

With the spacious suites, fully equipped kitchen and washing machine, the serviced apartments tend to provide more comfort which make you feel like home.

BTN: What does Marriott International have planned looking forward in Thailand? Are there any new properties in the pipeline or enhancements scheduled for the existing portfolio?

Daryn Hudson: According to our president and managing director Asia Pacific Marriott International, we expect to more than double in size in Asia through 2019, from over 170 hotels currently to more than 340 hotels across 18 countries.

By 2020, the JW Marriott brand aims to have 50 properties in the Asia Pacific region while The Ritz-Carlton brand is planning to double its footprint.

BTN: Marriott Executive Apartments has been nominated for the title of Thailand’s Leading Serviced Apartment Brand at the World Travel Awards. How does it feel to have been recognised in this way?

Daryn Hudson: We are proud of the nomination; the Marriott Executive Apartments Brand won this award in 2014, with votes coming from our valued guests.

To be nominated again in 2015 as the whole team feeling proud knowing we are living up to the Marriott philosophy that says “take good care of our associates, and they’ll take good care of our customers, and the customers will come back,” which the Marriott Executive Apartments in Bangkok have demonstrated over the years.