Marriott is continuing its expansion in Asia-Pacific, according to Ed Fuller, the company’s president and managing director, international lodging. Marriott currently has 96 hotels in the Asia-Pacific region, and this will expand by a further 58 by 2013.
At press time, 37 properties, representing 9,400 rooms, are under construction through till 2013. On September 9, another 21 hotels, representing 7,000 rooms, were tacked on that figure. According to Mr Fuller, such information was only made available when the management contracts were “signed, sealed and delivered or development was underway”, underscoring their prudent expansion style.
More networking friendly lobbies – known as the “Great Room” in Marriott International’s new generation design concept – will continue to be rolled out in various formats as the chain goes into overdrive. Great Room lobbies, said Fuller, are envisioned to encourage small meetings and powwows through specially created seating areas, internet-enabled corners and stepped up provision of F&B services. The “jackpack system”, allowing personal communication devices to be hooked up to the room’s flat-screen TV monitor and already available in many Marriott properties, will be a trademark feature in future hotels.
The latest 21 additions cover four of the company’s lodging brands, JW Marriott (Dalian and Sanya Island in China, Hanoi and Maldives), Marriott (China, the Philippines and Thailand, including the 712-room Shanghai Marriott Hotel City Center and 256-room Manila Airport Marriott Hotel opening later this year), Renaissance (China) and Courtyard by Marriott (Siem Reap, which is new for the group as well as China and India).
China, India and Thailand, said Fuller, were expected power most of the projects. Marriott’s first foray into the Asia-Pacific was through the JW Marriott Hongkong, which marked its 20th year in business this year with a major refurbishment of its guestrooms, public spaces and restaurants.
Ritz-Carlton, a high-tier brand which also belongs to the Marriott family, is getting ready to welcome its first Ritz-Carlton Reserve resort in Phulay Bay, Krabi. Trading on intimacy and luxury service , the all-villa property will open on December 1, 2009.
For more on the chain, visit www.marriott.com
Margie T Logarta
