A Global Standard of Excellence: 19zero3 Co-Founder Rocky Batchelor Becomes a Marriott International Endorsed Photographer

When you think of iconic hotel brands like The Ritz-Carlton, Sheraton, W Hotels, St. Regis, and Westin, you think Marriott International. As the largest hotel group in the world, Marriott represents the gold standard in global hospitality not just in guest experience, but in how its brands are visually presented to the world. That’s why we’re incredibly proud to announce that 19zero3 Co-Founder and Creative Director, Rocky Batchelor, is now an official Marriott International Accredited Photographer.

The Scale Behind the Standard

To truly understand the weight of a Marriott International endorsement, it helps to understand the scale at which the brand operates.

Marriott International is the largest hotel company in the world, with:

• 8,800+ hotels and resorts

• Over 1.6 million rooms

• Operating across 139 countries and territories

• 36 distinct hotel brands

  
  

Every image produced under the Marriott name must align with brand standards that are seen and trusted by millions of guests globally, every single day. That level of scale leaves no room for inconsistency. Being approved to create content within this ecosystem means meeting visual standards set out by Marriott international and designed to perform across:

• Global booking platforms

• International marketing campaigns

• Brand websites and loyalty ecosystems

• Print, digital, and in-property guest experiences

  
  

What Does It Mean to Be Marriott Approved?

Marriott’s accreditation process is a rigorous, highly selective endeavour, earned by only a small group of architecture and hospitality photographers worldwide. To receive approval, creatives must demonstrate an exceptional level of brand understanding, technical mastery, and storytelling precision and then be trained specifically to meet the visual standards of each of Marriott International’s 36 distinct hotel brands. Each brand carries its own identity, tone, guest promise, and visual language. Photographing a Ritz-Carlton is fundamentally different to capturing a W Hotel, an Edition, or a Sheraton and Marriott requires absolute consistency across every touchpoint globally. This approval reflects far more than technical skill. It includes brand literacy at the highest level, an ability to translate brand strategy into imagery, and requires a deep understanding of how visuals influence perception, trust, and bookings.

Why This Matters for Your Brand

Whether you’re a global hotel group, an independent luxury lodge, a boutique resort, or a hospitality service provider, this milestone brings real, tangible value to your business.

Being trained to Marriott’s standards means Rocky and the 19zero3 team approach every shoot with a mindset rooted in:

• Consistency and precision

• Narrative-driven imagery

• Commercial performance, not just aesthetics

  
  

Marriott’s visual standards are designed to do one thing exceptionally well, build trust and drive bookings at scale. That same discipline is applied to every project we take on, regardless of size. You may not be Marriott but your brand deserves the same level of care, clarity, and intention.

Brand Awareness Isn’t Optional, It’s Earned

At this level, accreditation isn’t about a logo or a name-drop. It’s about brand awareness so deep that it becomes instinctive. Knowing how to visually communicate luxury, warmth, scale, intimacy, or experience without being told is what separates good content from world-class content. For our clients, this means:

• Imagery aligned with your positioning and audience

• Visual assets that feel credible, premium, and intentional

• Content that stands confidently alongside the world’s best hospitality brands

  
  

What 19zero3 Brings to Every Client

This achievement isn’t something we keep at the top it’s something we push through the roots of every project and client. The systems, insights, and standards Rocky has gained through Marriott now inform how 19zero3 approaches every story:

Large or small, established or emerging, the same level of excellence applies.

Because when you work with 19zero3, you’re not just hiring a photographer or a production team. You are partnering with creatives trained to operate at a global brand level, with a deep understanding of how imagery shapes perception, trust, and long-term brand value.