Marriott International has unveiled plans to expand the number of its hotels built using modular construction methods.

The group said that it expects to sign 50 hotel deals in 2017 which incorporate prefabricated guestrooms or bathrooms, equating to over 10 per cent of the Select brand signings for North America this year.

Marriott currently has one North American property built under its modular initiative – the 97-room Folsom Fairfield Inn and Suites in California, with four more currently under construction across its Courtyard and AC Hotel brands.

The group said that “although more common in Europe and Asia, the modular method is gaining new attention in the US as construction demand across the country eclipses the number of available skilled workers in all real estate classes”.

“Construction is the next frontier for innovation, and modular is leading the way,” said Eric Jacobs, Marriott International’s Chief Development Officer of Select Brands, North America.

“By working with our pre-approved modular partners, owners can open hotels faster, put associates to work earlier and generate revenues sooner. It’s another example of Marriott’s focus on optimising our partners’ return on investment.”

marriott.com