For Marriott International, it’s all about consistency.  Whether you’re in Cleveland or Cairo, you can order a club sandwich — and that sandwich better be exactly what you’re picturing.  Marriott knows how powerful food can be to make a customer feel comfortable in their hotels.  Epitomized by the omnipresent club sandwich (turkey, lettuce, tomato and bacon on three slices of white toast), Marriott’s chefs train their staff to deliver the same product, time and time again, exactly the same way.

Some people don’t like hotel food for that very reason — the inherent safety of it — but Marriott knows their customers.  Marriott understands that everyone craves comfort food after a long day of travel.  It’s about putting the customers’ needs first, and teaching their chefs that there is a time for personal statement cooking, and a time to plate up the exact same sandwich they’ve made a hundred times already that day.  It’s about giving the customer what they want, a memory on a plate, and having the discipline to say no to the chipotle mayo.

Just how important is the club sandwich for Marriott International? [USA Today via Grub Street]