The Marriott is a popular place for foreigners to stay and a prominent enterprise in the city, despite a wave of violence the country suffers. The hotel had been victim of another attack in January 2007 where a security guard was killed and several people injured after the guard blocked a bomber from getting at the hotel, forcing him to detonate his explosives where he was.
The hotel had never been victim of an attack before January 2007 so they were taken by surprised and everyone was fearful