American hospitality brand Marriott International has announced a major expansion in South Asia – comprising India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Nepal – with 22 new signings in the past 18 months, including 13 in India.
The company expects to add more than 2,700 rooms. Marriott is the hotel chain with the largest number of rooms in the South Asia region and expects to continue its solid growth with these new signings.
Luxury segment
More than a third of the newly signed projects in South Asia in the last one and a half years include hotels and resorts in the luxury segment, comprised of brands such as JW Marriott and W Hotels.
Travelers can anticipate the debut of the W Hotels brand in Jaipur with W Jaipur in 2024. Once opened, Marriott states that the hotel expects to disrupt the norms of traditional luxury with its iconic service, infectious energy, and innovative experiences.
Rooted in holistic well-being, JW Marriott properties offer a haven designed to allow guests to focus on feeling whole – present in mind, nourished in body, and revitalized in spirit. The hotel expects to debut across the following locations across South Asia over the next 5 years:
- JW Marriott Ranthambore Resort & Spa located at one of India’s most prominent wildlife sanctuaries, The Ranthambore National Park
- JW Marriott Chennai ECR Resort & Spa on India’s beautiful Southern coastline
- JW Marriott Agra Resort & Spa in the land of the TAJ MAHAL
- and the debut of the JW Marriott brand in Goa and Shimla – two of India’s most famous resort destinations – with JW Marriott Goa and JW Marriott Shimla Resort & Spa.
JW Marriott brand will also debut in Bhutan with the opening of JW Marriott Hotel Bhutan, Thimphu which is anticipated to open in 2025 and offer curated experiences that celebrate the peaceful spirit of the land.
Maldives will get its second JW Marriott resort in 2025, when the JW Marriott Resort & Spa, Embhoodhoo Finolhu – South Male Atoll featuring 80 pool villas opens. The signing follows the newly opened The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, strengthening Marriott’s footprint on the famed leisure destination.
Rajeev Menon, President – Asia Pacific (excluding Greater China), Marriott International, said:
In a highly unpredictable year, these signings are a testament to Marriott International’s resilience and agility in driving strong growth within a hospitality landscape that continues to evolve. It is a sign of confidence from our owners and franchisees who have been an integral part of our growth journey. We are grateful for their continued support and trust in the power of our brands as we continue to welcome back travelers.
Premium brands
Expected to further the growth of premium brands in South Asia, the recent signings include the Katra Marriott Resort & Spa in India and the Le Meridien Kathmandu, which is expected to be the debut of the Le Meridien brand in Nepal. Additionally, the Bhaluka Marriott Hotel expects to mark the entry of the Marriott Hotels brand in Bangladesh, anticipated to open in 2024.
Select brands
Comprised of brands such as Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton, Aloft Hotels and Moxy Hotels, Marriott’s select brands also continue to resonate in South Asia representing more than 40% of the 22 newly signed hotel projects.
The Moxy brand, known for its experiential, playful style and approachable price point, is expected to debut in India and Nepal with Moxy Mumbai Andheri West in 2023 and the Moxy Kathmandu in 2025. Marriott has already announced Moxy Bengaluru and Moxy Chennai which are scheduled to open in 2025.
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The Courtyard by Marriott and Fairfield by Marriott brands will further drive the growth for Marriott in South Asia. With the recently signed agreements, Courtyard by Marriott expects to add 5 new properties to an existing operating portfolio of 20 hotels across South Asia. 4 of these properties are expected to open in the next 5 years and will be located in leading tier-two markets within India:
- Courtyard by Marriott Goa Arpora
- Courtyard by Marriott Tiruchirappalli
- Courtyard by Marriott Gorakhpur
- Courtyard by Marriott Ranchi
Jaipur will get 2 new Fairfield by Marriott Hotels. In Sri Lanka, the Courtyard by Marriott Colombo expects to mark the debut of the Courtyard brand in the country, slated to open in 2022.
Marriott presently operates 135 hotels across 16 distinct brands in 5 countries across South Asia. The brands currently operating in South Asia include:
In the luxury segment:
- St. Regis
- JW Marriott
- W Hotels
- The Ritz-Carlton
- The Luxury Collection
In the Premium segment:
- Marriott Hotels
- Sheraton
- Westin
- Tribute Portfolio
- Le Meridien
- Renaissance
- Marriott Executive Apartments
In the Select Service segment:
- Courtyard by Marriott
- Four Points by Sheraton
- Fairfield by Marriott
- Aloft Hotels
Kiran Andicot, Regional Vice President Development, South Asia, Marriott International, said:
These signings reinforce our commitment to South Asia as a high potential region where we continue to grow and engage with an expanding customer base by introducing more of Marriott’s brands and unique experiences in exciting destinations. We look forward to the opening of these new hotels in the future and to exploring future development opportunities throughout the region.
Meanwhile, Marriott recently announced the opening of W Philadelphia; JW Marriott Charlotte; Fairfield by Marriott South Binh Duong (Fairfield’s debut in Vietnam); Aloft Osaka Dojima (Marriott’s 70th hotel in Japan); Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Budapest; Residence Inn by Marriott, Bogotá; The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands; The Ritz-Carlton, Turks and Caicos; The St. Regis, Bermuda; The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm; Moxy, Bordeaux; Moxy, Bergen; Delta Hotels by Marriott Riviera Nayarit, an all-inclusive resort; W Changsha; Fairfield by Marriott Goa Benaulim; Domes of Corfu, Autograph Collection; AC Hotel Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Delta Hotels by Marriott Santa Clara Silicon Valley and Renaissance Bordeaux. The American hospitality chain has also announced plans to bring its Moxy brand to Sydney, Australia and to Nepal in addition to W Florence. Marriott has announced plans to open 10 Hotels and Resorts in Turkey by the end of 2022 and has also announced plans to open second Residence Inn and first Fairfield property in Costa Rica.
Featured image by Marriott
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