ASH PR: Marriott Lying About Permitting Smoking in Hotels

Marriott Hotels, having promised that “beginning in September [2006],” it would be "100 percent smoke-free" in all of its all "guest rooms, restaurants, lounges, meeting rooms, public space and employee work areas," is now going to permit smoking, but it is denying this new policy to many nonsmokers calling its consumer help lines.

At the same time it is claiming that it is not changing its "100 percent smoke-free" policy, Marriott is trying to convince critics that it has a recycle system for smoke-filled air, or that all of the smoke will be exhausted outdoors, an equally unlikely claim to professor John Banzhaf, a former engineer who has testified about tobacco smoke pollution.

Some guests who have relied on Marriott's promise to ban all smoking in its U.S. hotels may be placed at serious risk, since many have asthma, sinusitis, allergies or other conditions which make them especially susceptible to even small amounts of tobacco smoke. One potential plaintiff has advised Marriott that: “I must carry an Epi Pen with me where ever I go because I am so allergic to tobacco smoke that I could literally die from an asthma attack or a severe allergic reaction to tobacco smoke.”

It appears that Marriott will not provide any warning that smoking will be taking place, even though the U.S. Surgeon General has reported that there is no safe lower level of exposure. Since the CDC has warned that exposure to drifting tobacco smoke for as little as 30 minutes can be deadly, especially to those with pre-existing medical conditions, Banzhaf has warned Marriott about the danger to susceptible guests who go to bed and then are subjected without warning to smoke for 8 hours while they sleep.

He also advised them of potential legal liability, reminding them of a class action law suit against McDonald's which promised to lower the level of trans fat and then, after issuing just one press release, said it could not do so. McDonald's was forced to pay $8.5 million to settle the resulting suit by plaintiffs who were not even injured.

The legal case against Marriott is far stronger, argues Banzhaf, because its pledge was unequivocal, it did not even issue a press release as McDonald's had, is now lying to callers by denying the change in policy, and because tobacco smoke exposure can cause serious medical problems -- and possibly death -- for those especially susceptible.

Anyone doubting that Marriott is lying to callers about its change in policy can call them at: (800) 228-9290 or (301) 380-3000.