Strange Bedfellows: Marriott, Schrager†

Wall Street Journal, June 14, 2007 — Lodging giant Marriott International Inc., one of the industry's most conservative companies, has struck a deal to develop a boutique chain designed by Ian Schrager, the entrepreneur known for his style-driven hotels. The agreement, to be announced today, is intended to give Marriott a presence in the boutique segment of the hotel industry, which it has been unable to crack even as rivals like Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. have found a lucrative vein with brands such as W.