MAM
Magazines and in-app communication to promote Marriott’s welcome-back discounts
NEW DELHI: The Covid2019 pandemic has led to many businesses within the country shut their shops completely, including the $22billion hotel industry. For the past two months, with stringent travel restrictions in place, the industry faced clumps of losses. However, as the lockdown starts easing, the players are slowly prepping to get back on their feet.
Recently, US-based Marriott International announced the launch of an interesting deal as a welcome-back offer curated specially for South Asian countries including Asia, under which people can make the hotel bookings now within the month of June, choosing between three different complimentary offers, and avail them any time by June 2021. They will be able to save 30 per cent and above on these bookings.
Sheraton Hyderabad GM Vikas Sharma told Indiantelevision.com that it is an initiative by the hotel chain to get the cash flowing within the hotels. He said that just within five days of the announcement of the offer, his hotel has already received bookings for 50 room nights.
“In fact, the whole Marriott chain has been receiving queries and bookings. People have reacted to it pretty well,” Sharma added.
Most of the bookings received are for the month of June and July 2020. “My hotel is an area where most bookings are made for business purposes. However, another trend that I am seeing is people booking the hotel for staycations.”
Marriott is also preparing all its hotels to ensure complete safety for its team members and guests and has been ensuring proper sanitisation of the spaces, and introducing touch-free options for facilities like check-in, bill payments, and food & dining experience, etc.
“The hotels have been working with partners like Ecolabs and Diversey to get the best sanitisation practices in place. We have stringent quality control over each other product that will be used in our hotel, as well,” Sharma said.
Marriott is also working on in-house technologies to provide keyless check-in to its guests using QR codes and innovating to introduce maximum touch-less experience at shared spaces like elevators.
The hotel chain is looking at utilising print media, like magazines, personalised communication to its patrons, and in-app notifications on its Bonvoy platform to communicate about this offer. Sharma added that they are also looking forward to a lot of word-of-mouth publicity about the offer.
While he is expecting a positive response to the discount and thinks people will soon start travelling for business and staycation purposes, he believes that it won’t be before the first quarter of CY2021 that the industry will be able to get back on its feet.
“I have at least 75 per cent occupancy at my hotel in this time period (June-July) and I will consider myself lucky if we manage to get even 25 per cent this time. The industry will take some time to get back to normal,” Sharma concluded.
When you plan to buy medical insurance for your family, the first question is often about savings. You may assume that buying online automatically means paying less, but that is only part of the picture. The real issue is not just whether the premium looks lower, but whether the policy gives you suitable family health insurance without adding avoidable costs later.
Buying online can sometimes appear more budget-friendly because you can compare plans, review features, and complete the process without depending entirely on offline assistance.
Still, a lower visible price does not always mean better value. To understand whether you can truly save more, you need to look at the full buying experience and the policy terms together.
Why Online Purchase Can Look More Economical
When you explore family health insurance online, you usually get access to plan details in a more direct and organised way. This can make the buying journey feel simpler and more transparent.
A few reasons online purchases may seem cost-effective include:
● Easier comparison of policy features
● Direct access to premium details
● The ability to review inclusions and exclusions at your own pace
● Fewer chances of making a rushed decision
● More control over the plan selection process
This does not mean every online option is automatically cheaper. It simply means the online route may help you assess choices more carefully, and that itself can influence how much value you get from the policy you choose.
Saving Money is Not Only About a Lower Premium
A lower premium often catches your attention first, but that should not be the only measure of savings. If you buy medical insurance based only on what looks affordable at the start, you may overlook conditions that matter later.
A family health insurance policy should be judged on overall value, including:
● The scope of cover
● Waiting period terms
● Exclusions
● Room eligibility conditions
● Sub-limits, if any
● Claim-related terms
● Renewal conditions
If the premium is lower but the policy has stricter internal conditions, the apparent saving may not feel meaningful when you actually need hospitalisation support.
So, the better question is not only whether online purchase costs less, but whether it helps you select a plan that remains financially sensible over time.
Comparing Plans Online Can Prevent Overspending
One clear advantage of the online route is that it allows you to compare different options without pressure. This can help you avoid paying for features you may not need or missing features that matter for your family.
Before you buy medical insurance online, look closely at:
● Who can be covered under the plan
● How the sum insured works for the family
● Whether day care procedures are included
● How pre-existing illness rules are explained
● Whether add-ons are optional or built in
● How clearly the policy wording is presented
This level of comparison can support better decision-making. In many cases, savings come not only from the premium itself but from choosing a policy with fewer surprises.
Online Discounts Should be Viewed Carefully
Online discounts can make a plan look attractive, but they should always be read alongside the policy details. A discount may reduce the upfront cost, yet the true worth of the policy depends on what it covers and how it responds during a claim.
When reviewing discounted online plans, check whether the policy has:
● Treatment-specific limits
● Room rent restrictions
● Co-payment clauses
● Disease-wise waiting periods
● Claim deductions linked to the hospital category
● Limited cover for selected benefits
These points are important because a policy that looks cheaper at purchase may involve more out-of-pocket spending later. That is why discount-led buying should be replaced with detail-led buying.
Final Thoughts
Yes, buying online can sometimes help you save more when choosing family health insurance, but only if you look beyond the headline price. The online route may give you better visibility, easier comparison, and more time to review the policy terms.
That can support smarter choices and may reduce the chances of paying for a plan that does not suit your family well.
If you want to buy medical insurance online, treat savings as more than a discount. The real advantage lies in choosing family health insurance that balances affordability, clarity, and meaningful coverage for your household.
