How Marriott utilises Gifted to streamline influencer marketing at global scale
Marriott International, one of the world’s largest and most recognizable hotel groups, had an ambitious goal: bring fresh attention to the diverse brands within their global portfolio. From their vibrant, youthful hotels to their prestige properties, Marriott wanted each of their properties to shine individually while offering a cohesive brand experience. With this in mind, Marriott turned to Gifted to help streamline influencer collaborations and standardize their influencer collaboration workflow.
Gifted offered the tools Marriott needed to simplify influencer partnerships by providing clear expectations through their ‘Collab Briefs,’ to enable Marriott to support each property equally. Smaller properties that might typically go unnoticed now had the same powerful toolkit as flagship locations. Gifted’s opt-in model for influencers was particularly attractive, as it allowed influencers to apply for collaborations that genuinely interested them. This feature ensured that influencers working with Marriott were genuinely invested in each campaign, creating a more authentic connection with their audiences.
Moxy Chelsea
Marriott’s first collaboration on Gifted kicked off with Moxy Chelsea, a hotel with a flair for attracting younger, experience-hungry travelers. Known for its eclectic atmosphere, Moxy Chelsea is much more than a place to sleep; it’s a hub for socializing, with lively common areas, quirky decor, and some of NYC’s best foodie destinations nearby. It was the ideal starting point to test Gifted’s influencer approach.
The influencer chosen for this launch was Shivani (@khoslaa), a gaming and foodie influencer with a knack for turning the seemingly ordinary into viral gold. With almost 600K followers, Shivani was no stranger to spotlighting unique food and lifestyle experiences in ways that resonated with her engaged audience.
She had recently created waves during a Dubai trip with two IHG hotels that were also on Gifted, where her content racked up over 4 million views - a testament to her power to transform content into must-watch moments.
Shivani's content with Moxy took followers along with her as she explored NYC’s vibrant foodie scene by day and relaxed at the buzzing Moxy by night. This collaboration drew close to a million views, with Shivani’s infectious enthusiasm bringing Moxy’s creative spirit to life and inspiring a younger, experience-driven audience while showcasing Moxy Chelsea as the go-to spot for travelers wanting more than just a place to stay.
Renaissance Dubai
After the success with Moxy, Marriott’s next collab was with Renaissance Dubai, a hotel aiming to attract families looking for a blend of luxury and comfort in a family-friendly setting. Marriott wanted to focus on families and highlight the hotel’s upscale yet approachable dining options—a key feature they hoped would stand out to prospective guests.
For this, they turned to Annie, a British family influencer whose relatable, sophisticated content has earned her a dedicated following of 100,000 fans. Annie’s style - elegant yet grounded - made her an excellent match for the Renaissance brand. Her audience trusted her recommendations, making her an ideal partner to showcase the best of Renaissance Dubai.
Throughout her stay, Annie highlighted the hotel’s F&B offerings, capturing everything from cozy family meals to sophisticated dining experiences. The content resonated, generating hundreds of thousands of views and high engagement, with many followers commenting on their interest in visiting Dubai. Marriott saw promising evidence of intent to book, particularly among families excited by the hotel’s focus on both comfort and culinary variety.
Bringing It All Together
These collaborations with Moxy Chelsea and Renaissance Dubai are just a glimpse of the exciting work Marriott has launched through Gifted. With many more collaborations in the pipeline, Marriott continues to explore fresh ways to engage audiences across its diverse portfolio, each campaign bringing a unique story to life. We’re thrilled to be part of their journey and look forward to supporting more creative and impactful partnerships in the months ahead.