With an unrivalled network of landmark hotels and resorts in 60 countries today, Marriott International is set to expand its luxury footprint further with 200 hotels in the development pipeline, representing 25 new countries, from Iceland and Nepal to Cuba and the Philippines. The brand announced that it is set to open nearly 40 luxury hotels in 2018 alone.
“From former palaces in Venice and Vienna, to skyscrapers in Hong Kong and Dubai, to intimate, remote escapes in the Maldives and Mexico, the breadth of our portfolio is incomparable and allows us to surpass the expectations of our guests around the globe,” said Tina Edmundson, global brand officer, Marriott International.
A global luxury study conducted in partnership with Skift, the largest travel industry intelligence platform, revealed that the number one priority for luxury travellers is centred around transformative travel and authentic experiences that provide a new perspective on the world.
With a new lens on luxury and focus on the fast-evolving expectations and aspirations of the global traveller, Marriott International elevates travel with highly contextualised, nuanced brand experiences that signal the future of luxury. “Access is the new authentic, and our brands are portals to diverse cultures and one-off travel moments,” said Edmundson.
The Ritz-Carlton will continue to set the standard in luxury in 2018, with debuts in six exciting locations. The year will also see renovations of key properties including The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin and The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul. St. Regis Hotels & Resorts is scheduled to celebrate the renovation of The St. Regis Rome in 2018, as well as openings in destinations such as Cairo and Amman. Scheduled to reach 75 hotels by 2020, W Hotels will see eight hotels open this year, ranging from Dubai to Brisbane and Panama City.
With seven new properties scheduled to launch across three continents, and many more in the pipeline, 2018 will mark a pivotal moment for Marriott’s Edition brand. Following The Sanya Edition’s launch in December 2016, Edition’s Asian presence is scheduled to expand with two additional properties launching in Shanghai and Bangkok in 2018. In addition, the brand’s second and third European hotels are set for launch in Bodrum and Barcelona. It will launch its first outpost in the Middle East in Abu Dhabi.
Inspired by its legendary namesake, JW Marriott is a brand committed to cultivating enriching experiences for guests seeking approachable, modern luxury. The brand is looking forward to yet another milestone year with openings slated for 2018 in Nashville and the Maldives. JW Marriott will also continue to reinforce and revitalize its global portfolio with multi-million-dollar renovations in more than half of its properties, including JW Marriott Bangkok and Grosvenor House, a JW Marriott Hotel.