property , continuing the legacy of J . Willard Marriott and redefining wellness in a post-pandemic world .
HOTELS : The pandemic has changed the way people travel and gather for social and business meetings . In such a scenario , how has JW Marriott been adapting and how will its ongoing development projects adapt ? Bruce Rohr : We are fortunate that most of our JW Marriott properties have ample space for social distancing . Whether for an outdoor
wedding at the Whisper Creek Farm at JW Orlando , Grande Lakes , or a shareholder meeting in the ballroom of JW Marriott Shanghai Fengxian , our hotels have been able to safely cater to travelers ’ needs over the past two years . Many of our hotels had to get creative like JW Marriott Los Angeles L . A . LIVE , which created private dining greenhouses on their expansive patio . They ’ ve proven to be so popular that the hotel may make them a permanent fixture .
Fortunately , JW Marriott ’ s design playbook is guided by our ‘ Whole You ’ philosophy . As a result , many of our hotels have a JW Garden where guests are invited to take a breath in a sanctuary that reminds us of the beauty of the natural world . With wellness becoming more important to all travelers , we will see breakout sessions in our gardens and other outdoor spaces . In addition , we will continue to develop our meeting spaces with the latest technologies to ensure remote participants are as dialed-in as their gathered counterparts . The world has changed and we ’ re changing along with it .
H : How has the brand been performing as the industry rebounds , and where has it seen strength and continued weakness ? And how are you addressing weaknesses ? BR : Domestic , regional travel across our portfolio has been strong during the pandemic and continues to be a significant part of our business . This includes American travelers visiting our newer properties such as JW Marriott , Anaheim Resort in California and JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District in Georgi . Overseas , JW Marriott Hotel Nara [ Japan ], which opened in 2020 , has been very popular amongst Japanese families .
JW Marriott has also benefited from the new ‘ work from anywhere ’ flexibility , a trend we believe is here to stay . We ’ re seeing couples and families booking longer stays , working for several hours in a cabana before diving into the pool . That ’ s the type of work / life balance we think is not only good for the industry , but for travelers ’ wellbeing .
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