According to the Los Angeles Times, Marriott International announced Wednesday that it will ban smoking at its 2,300 hotels in North America — from the economy Fairfield Inns to the upscale Ritz-Carltons — making it the first major hotel company to adopt a sweeping anti-smoking policy. The new policy, to be adopted in September, bans smoking in all rooms as well as in public spaces such as restaurants, lobbies, bathrooms and meeting areas at Marriott’s 2,300 hotels and 400,000 rooms in the United States and Canada. Anyone who sneaks a puff in their room faces fees of $200 to $300 for cleaning costs.
Westin Hotels, operated by Starwood Hotels and Resorts, which also owns W brands and Sheraton, became the first chain to go smoke-free last year. Shortly after Westin’s announcement, others followed including hotels at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif. Hilton spokeswoman Kendra Walker said the Beverly Hills, Calif.-based company, whose name is on 2,700 hotels worldwide, had no immediate plans to change its policy.
Still, this is great news for those of us allergic to smoke.
