Travelers are seeking out memorable personalized experiences. Today, Marriott International, Inc. announced it has invested in PlacePass, a pioneering provider of travel technology solutions offering travelers a leading online meta-search platform for in-destination experiences. Global travelers will soon be able to choose from an additional 100,000 plus authentic local experiences in 800 destinations worldwide when they book direct on Marriott.com or SPG.com or their respective apps.

Travelers can go to members.marriott.com to learn more about what’s in store and the types of experiences Marriott will offer with PlacePass, as well as the personalized experiences already available to travelers through its loyalty programs.

No matter your passion – from a champagne picnic in the Grand Canyon to exploring the Norwegian wilderness on a dog sled tour, whether you are traveling alone, as a couple or family, or if you have a few hours to spare or a few days – guests who book with Marriott will get the most out their travels. Among some the more exciting opportunities will be: 

• Wrestle with a retired sumo wrestler in Tokyo, and get a behind-the-scenes look at the history of Japan’s national sport.
• Get a taste of desert life in the dunes outside Dubai. Explore the dunes by camel or 4×4, then enjoy a sunset view of the desert and traditional Bedouin-style dinner. 
• Explore the filming locations for the hit series “Downton Abbey” on a VIP guided tour from London, including Highclere Castle and Bampton, the setting for Downton village.
• Perfect your pasta-making skills alongside a local Italian chef at a Tuscan farmhouse, a chateau in the Dolomites, or a Florentine cooking school.

Sounds like activities right up our alley. We’ll keep this in mind for our next trip.