Live at Aloft Hotels Homecoming Tour continues in 2020 with the brightest talent in music

Following Shows in Chicago, Perth, Madrid, Los Angeles, Dublin, 2020’s Tour Stops Continue to Take Music Makers Back to Their Roots in Dubai, Mexico, and China

BETHESDA, MD, 2020-Jan-24 — /Travel PR News/ — The brightest talent in music will be returning to their hometowns for free live music performances as the Live at Aloft Hotels Homecoming Tour continues in 2020. Aloft Hotels, Marriott International’s brand for music lovers and music makers, and Universal Music Group & Brands (UMGB), the brand partnership division of Universal Music Group, created the Homecoming Tour to bring some of today’s most talked about artists back to places where they can thank the fans who have been with them from the beginning. Musicians NJOMZA, Troye Sivan, Mala Rodriguez, BANKS, and Dermot Kennedy headlined the Homecoming Tour’s first stops between August and November 2019 in Chicago, Perth, Madrid, Los Angeles, and Dublin.

Kicking off 2020 with its sixth stop, Aloft brought acclaimed artist Mohamed El Majzoub to Dubai to perform an intimate set at Aloft Palm Jumeirah (Dubai, UAE). Winner of the second season of X Factor, El Majzoub established himself on the musical scene at an early age. The 26-year-old is an admired artist by a large audience across the MENA region, with a fast growing fanbase amongst the expanding Arab communities all around the world. El Majzoub has two albums under his belt with multiple singles on the charts and has been ranked as one of the top five highest streamed artists of his category (age, positioning, genre) on more than one major local streaming platform.

Looking ahead, the tour will feature at least two more free performances from UMG artists at Aloft’s newest hotels, including:

· February 27: Caloncho at Aloft Querétaro (Querétaro, Mexico)

· March 26: Tifa Chen at Aloft Shanghai Zhangjiang Haike (Shanghai, China)

“I have an emotional connection with Shanghai, which can be seen in the video for my new track ‘Billboard,’ which features Jonas Blue,” said Tifa Chen. “The video was exclusively shot in Shanghai, and really highlights the beauty and excitement of the city. Having just released my debut self-titled album, ‘TIFA,’ I’m thrilled at the opportunity to return to Shanghai and perform for my fans at the Aloft.”

Caloncho is a popular Mexican singer-songwriter known for his local humanitarian efforts. Before devoting himself fully to music, Caloncho sold custom bicycles and small colorful skateboards under a brand he named “The Vehicle of the Future.” Growing up, he was always surrounded by nature, which has been the inspiration for many songs. This has translated also into his lifestyle, as he advocates for environmental action, including dynamics of reforestation, supporting his wife’s urban garden, and connecting with his audience by sharing relevant information to his followers, among other initiatives.

Tifa Chen was first signed to Cube Entertainment (2NE1, Beast) at the age of 22 and CJ entertainment from South Korea. She’s the first Chinese female artist to perform on M Countdown, the world’s No.1 Kpop Chart Show in Korea. In 2016, she won the national runner-up on season 4 of The Voice of China, mentored by Chinese superstar Jay Chou. Tifa’s acting talent can be seen in 2018’s Pacific Rim and participation in both Mask Singer and season 2 of Rap of China. This past December, Tifa debuted her anticipated self-written and self-titled album “TIFA.” The album was mixed by Rob Kinelski (Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Troye Sivan, etc.) and mastered by Randy Merrill (Taylor Swift ME!, BTS, Cardi B, Ariana Grande). Her international debut song “Billboard,” which also featured Jonas Blue, has archived over 4M streams globally.

“Since launching in August 2019, interest and excitement around Aloft’s Homecoming Tour has grown with each and every tour stop, and we couldn’t be more delighted to share these once-in-a-lifetime music moments with fans around the world,” said Toni Stoeckl, Global Brand Leader, Aloft Hotels and Vice President, Distinctive Select Brands for Marriott International. “The global tour will continue to bring even more nostalgic musical performances to some of the world’s best music destinations such as Mexico and China.”

Six stops, cities, and artists later, the Live At Aloft Hotels Homecoming Tour has cultivated a strong online following, reaching travelers and fans around the world. More than 29,275 hours of branded video content – surpassing 1 million views across Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube – have been viewed by fans thanks to the intimate performances, interactive event moments, and compelling, original content that takes Aloft’s guests even further behind music with each artist in their hometown.

Merging Music, Design & Technology with ‘GIF-ITI’ Artist INSA

In addition to providing a platform for artists to showcase their talent, Aloft is also Marriott International’s tech incubator brand. Combining this love of music and technology, and to give innovation a platform during the Homecoming Tour, Aloft will continue collaborating with British ‘GIF-ITI’ street artist INSA to provide an interactive art experience that puts a new spin on the tendency for fans to film concerts on their phones. INSA, who has been portrayed as “the next Banksy” thanks to his talent and heavily guarded anonymity, will create an AR experience that evolves during the performers’ sets through stage design. Embracing the inevitable sea of phones at concerts as a sign of our times, INSA has created a dynamic stage design for the Homecoming Tour that will animate via his custom app, rewarding guests with the ultimate phone viewing and recording experience as they hold up their device to the stage. Exclusive merch featuring INSA’s artwork will be gifted to guests attending the event to take home as a memento.

Not able to attend the global performances? No problem – INSA is also creating artwork on limited-edition key cards that will be distributed to every Aloft hotel around the world for guests to bring to life using the custom app. Fans will also be able to follow the journey of INSA’s artwork creation on Aloft’s Instagram.

Marriott Bonvoy Loyalty Perks & Exclusive Moments

As with all of Aloft’s live music events, the performances are free and open to everyone, but the best way to get closer to the artists and music is by being a member of Marriott Bonvoy, the travel program that replaced Marriott Rewards, Starwood Preferred Guest and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards in 2019.

Special member benefits include:

· Members can bid Marriott Bonvoy points on money-can’t-buy Marriott Bonvoy Moments to meet with each artist in their hometowns.

· All Marriott Bonvoy members will receive priority access to the event and an exclusive meet & greet with the artist after the show. (Offer is based on first-come, first-served basis up to maximum capacity of the venue, at Marriott’s sole discretion. Capacity will vary by location.)

· Marriott Bonvoy members with Gold, Platinum Titanium or Ambassador Elite status will receive curated gift bags which include a limited-edition tour t-shirt from street artist INSA, wireless headphones courtesy of Marriott Bonvoy, nostalgia merch, and more.

“It’s exciting to see the Live At Aloft Hotels Homecoming Tour continuing on into 2020, bringing artists closer to their fans through intimate concert venues and money-can’t-buy exclusive Marriott Bonvoy Moments,” said LJ Gutierrez, General Manager of Brand Partnerships, UMG. “Since UMG and Marriott International started working together in 2015, our collaboration continues to evolve through concerts and experiences showcasing UMG’s premier talent at Marriott properties across the globe.”

How to Attend

· Hometown Fans: Those looking to attend Live At Aloft Hotels Homecoming Tour performances should RSVP at alofthotels.com/homecomingtour (please note capacity is limited, RSVP does not guarantee entry and attendance will be on a first-come, first-served basis; guests must be of legal drinking age).

· Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card Holders Perks: Card Members who present their Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card at the door will have the opportunity to cut-the-line with guaranteed entry, exclusive merch, and a meet & greet with talent. (Must present valid Marriott Bonvoy credit card to receive “cut-the-line” access. Limited to card holder plus one guest. Offer based on first-come, first-served basis up to maximum capacity of venue, at Marriott’s sole discretion. Capacity will vary by location.)

· Out-of-Town Fans: For those fans who are not local, or just want to guarantee getting up close-and-personal with the hometown star, limited-edition bookable hotel packages are available at alofthotels.com/homecomingtour. Music-inspired packages will include a one-night stay, $50 beverage and food credit per package, guaranteed entry to the event, Aloft Homecoming Tour merch, and artist meet & greet.

Special Artist Rates, as the Hotel for Music Makers and Music Lovers

Aloft Hotels has been supporting emerging musical talent since its inception with its ongoing live music program: Live At Aloft Hotels, which hosts live music performances from up-and-coming musicians in Aloft Hotels’ W XYZ® Bars around the world every week. Aloft hotels are in thriving music destinations, welcoming touring musicians with special discounted artist rates, the opportunity to use the W XYZ® Bar as a performance space for free, and a musician’s guide featuring everything from where to dine late-night after a gig, the best nearby affordable recording studio, where to purchase guitar strings and more to hit the right note for each stay.

About Aloft Hotels
With over 170 hotels now open in over 25 countries and territories around the world, Aloft Hotels, part of Marriott International, Inc., delivers a fresh approach to the traditional staid hotel landscape. For the ‘always on’ next generation of traveler, the Aloft brand offers a tech-forward, vibrant experience and a modern style that is different by design. For more information, please visit www.alofthotels.com and follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Aloft is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy, the new name of Marriott’s travel program replacing Marriott Rewards®, The Ritz- Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG). The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including earning points toward free hotel stays and nights toward Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit MarriottBonvoy.marriott.com.

About Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 7,200 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 134 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company now offers one travel program, Marriott Bonvoy™, replacing Marriott Rewards®, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest®(SPG). For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram.

About Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group (UMG) is the world leader in music-based entertainment, with a broad array of businesses engaged in recorded music, music publishing, merchandising and audiovisual content in more than 60 countries. Featuring the most comprehensive catalog of recordings and songs across every musical genre, UMG identifies and develops artists and produces and distributes the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful music in the world. Committed to artistry, innovation and entrepreneurship, UMG fosters the development of services, platforms and business models in order to broaden artistic and commercial opportunities for our artists and create new experiences for fans. Universal Music Group is a Vivendi company. Find out more at: http://www.universalmusic.com.

Source: Marriott International, Inc.

###

Subscribe to Notifications