Marriott International(US:MAR) Feng Huang Wang Cai Jing·2025-09-22 12:52Core Viewpoint - A recent incident involving a Marriott hotel in Changzhou, Jiangsu, has raised concerns about hygiene standards in high-end hotels, as a guest discovered used slippers with hair and pilling, leading to public outrage and an investigation by local health authorities [1][3][4]. Group 1: Incident Details - The hotel charges an average room rate exceeding 700 RMB per day, yet the slippers provided were found to be unsanitary, prompting the guest to question their cleanliness [3]. - The hotel staff claimed that slippers are cleaned and reused, which was not clearly communicated to guests, violating hygiene regulations that require proper cleaning and disinfection of reusable items [3][11]. - Following the incident, the hotel admitted that slippers are reused 2-3 times for environmental reasons, which has sparked a debate about the balance between cost-saving and hygiene [4][11]. Group 2: Public Reaction - Online discussions revealed a divide among netizens, with some viewing the incident as an industry norm while others criticized the hotel for prioritizing cost over cleanliness [4]. - Complaints against Marriott have been accumulating, with over 1,000 grievances reported on consumer platforms, highlighting issues such as hygiene standards and customer service [8]. Group 3: Company Background and Performance - Marriott International, a leading hotel group with 1.667 million rooms, has faced challenges in the Chinese market, which is its second-largest market globally [10][11]. - In Q2 2025, Marriott's global hotel revenue grew by 5% to $6.74 billion, but its performance in Greater China showed a decline, with RevPAR down 0.5% and ADR down 0.9% [12][14]. - The company is also planning to lay off 833 employees in early 2025, indicating ongoing operational challenges [14].