Marriott plans to reach the milestone of 1000 hotels in Asia-Pacific later this year.
The company expects to open nearly 100 properties in the region in 2022, with Greater China accounting for more than half of its anticipated luxury openings.
The group cited research by ILTM Asia Pacific which showed that Greater China’s affluent population contributes to half of the region’s total spending on airfare and lodging. Openings in Greater China this year will include a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in the Jiuzhaigou Valley, JW Marriott Hotel Changsha and W Macau – Studio City.
Meanwhile, with leisure demand continuing to outpace business travel, the group plans to strengthen its portfolio in leisure destinations. The company will bring its JW Marriott brand to Jeju in South Korea in May, while it will open its third W hotel in Australia in late 2022 with a property in Sydney. The company’s wellness brand Westin Hotels and Resorts will also debut in Japan’s Yokohama and Vietnam’s Cam Ranh this year.
The group’s select service brands will also expand in the region. Four Points by Sheraton, for instance, has five planned openings throughout the year, while Moxy Hotels will open properties in China’s Suzhou and Xi’an.
The company will also debut its AC Hotels brand in Korea and Australia with the openings of AC Hotel Seoul Gangnam and AC Hotel Melbourne Southbank. The Fairfield by Marriott brand, meanwhile, will strengthen its presence in Japan with six new properties planned to open across Nara, Hokkaido and Hyogo along ‘Michi-no-Eki’ roadside stations.
Craig S. Smith, group president, international for Marriott International, said:
“I am very pleased with our 2021 development results in Asia Pacific. We have worked closely with our owners throughout the last two years to navigate the challenges brought on by the pandemic, adapt quickly, and grow.
“Last year in Asia Pacific, we signed two new development deals a week on average, with deals signed in 13 different markets across the region. This year, we expect to continue to drive demand and growth which is a testament to our talented teams committed to operational excellence, and the relationships we have with the customers we’re privileged to serve and the developers, owners, franchisees and partners we’re honored to do business with.”
