MARRIOTT International has reported continued strong growth in its global lodging portfolio with the addition of 175 hotels and more than 31,000 rooms last year.
Another 38 hotels joined Marriott in the first quarter of this year, 42 per cent of which were conversions from other brands. Ed Fuller, president and MD, international lodging, said, “At some point in the next month, we will reach our 500,000th room milestone and with 50,000 rooms in our development pipeline or under construction. We expect to add another 175 hotels this year.”
Marriott recently introduced its mid-priced Courtyard brand to the region with the 306-room Courtyard by Marriott Kuwait City. Another Courtyard property will open this year, the 164-room Courtyard by Marriott Hotel Dubai Green Community. “With 25 luxury and upscale hotels and resorts in the Middle East, we are now expanding our product here with our Courtyard brand.”
Marriott will open more than 30 hotels outside North America this year, including hotels in Bali, Malaysia, India, Italy and China.
The company is also ready to launch a new travel card in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait, which will enable travellers to pre-pay their hotel stays.