Marriott Launches Owner Rebate Program Ahead of $125 Million Credit Card Fee Jump

Skift Take Marriott is paying franchisees back from its own pocket, but the credit card revenue owners want a share of is set to get up to $125 million larger a year. Marriott announced Monday it is launching a new fee rebate program this week that pays hotel franchisees back directly from its own profit and loss statement for properties that hit strong guest satisfaction scores. The program, which Marriott calls an ITR (intend to recommend) incentive, will rebate up to 50 basis points of gross room revenue to eligible hotels in the U.S. and Canada, paid from Marriott’s own P&L rather than the shared system funds that owners collectively contribute to. “It’s up to 50 basis points of gross room revenue, fee reimbursement for achieving defined ITR thresholds,” CFO Jen Mason said on the company's second-quarter earnings call. “That will start to be baked in for the back half