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Marriott Hotels in North America are going smoke-free in September. Last year, Westin, part of the Starwood chain, banned smoking in all its rooms and public spaces and began to impose fines on violators of the ban.

The Marriott move goes further by extending the ban to all brands under the corporate umbrella. That means Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Courtyard, Fairfield, etc. Westin’s policy affected 77 hotels. Marriott’s policy affects 2300. That’s huge.

Smokers are bound to be miffed. But hotels are private property, and the move is a market decision. I also don’t think there will be an all-smoking hotel chain coming down the pike, like the all-smoking airlines that have been proposed. Consider that 85 to 90 percent of hotel rooms at mid- to upscale chains are already nonsmoking. The market for smoking rooms is small and shrinking, despite the smoking population being larger than 10%.

As a non-smoker, I’m all for the ban. (Here come the angry e-mails!) I haven’t been stuck in a smoking room for several years, but if this reduces my odds of getting stuck in one, then all the better. But the more noticeable change will be in the public areas, such as lounges.

Smokers will still be allowed to go outside for a drag. Or they can stay in another hotel.

I predict that other chains will follow suit. If smokers migrate to another brand, then those brands might develop a reputation as being “smoky.” That, in turn, could drive away the larger non-smoking market. So expect other Starwood brands, Hyatt, and Inter-Continental to eliminate smoking as well. Smoke-filled rooms may all but disappear at major chains, except for the lower-end brands. (If Motel 6 or Econolodge go smoke-free, I’ll be surprised.) In any case, thumbs up to Marriott for the change.