“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They are central to our identity as a nation.They are going to lead this recovery.”
It was the perfect match. Marriott International was in the market for unique in-room products to offer guests traveling with small children; entrepreneurs Allison Costa and Amy Feldman were seeking clients for their newly patented Coverplay, a stylish slipcover that fits over a child’s play yard. But it wasn’t until last year, when several executives at Marriott hotels brought Coverplay to the attention of leadership, that the business connection was made and a deal struck. Today, Costa and Feldman’s Coverplay products are available at 2,500 Marriott-owned hotels, and the California-based women-certified enterprise has grown more than 300 percent over the past year.