Marriott International to open up to 100 more properties in APAC in 2021

Following its opening of 75 properties across Asia Pacific in 2020, Marriott International, Inc. says it will expand its portfolio and expects to open 100 properties in Asia Pacific in 2021. In 2020, the company celebrated its 800th milestone hotel opening in the region and added 27,000 rooms to its development pipeline, in addition to signing Marriott’s largest branded residences project with close to 4,200 units. “I am proud of the way we have continued to grow and have moved quickly to adapt to the challenges that arose from the pandemic. With the launch of new global industry hygiene standards in April 2020, innovative offerings such as work anywhere packages and hyper-localised marketing and sales strategies, our nimble and forward-thinking approach will continue to lead us through the recovery,” said Craig S. Smith, group president, international, Marriott International. The company said it expects to soon celebrate its 400th hotel in Greater China and its 50th hotel in Shanghai with the opening of JW Marriott Shanghai Fengxian in spring 2021. According to a joint report by consultancy Bain & Co. and Alibaba’s Tmall Luxury unit, Mainland China is on track to become the world’s largest personal luxury market by 2025, even seeing year-over-year domestic growth in 2020 despite the pandemic. To leverage this trend, Marriott International continues to strengthen its luxury portfolio with expected openings in 2021 such as W Changsha, W Xiamen, St. Regis Qingdao and The Ritz-Carlton Reserve Jiuzhaigou. With the anticipated opening of the Ritz-Carlton Reserve, China will be the first country in Asia Pacific to house all of Marriott International’s luxury hallmarks. Marriott reports its leisure bookings up over 25% year over year in the third quarter in Mainland China, which it says demonstrates the resiliency of demand once consumers are comfortable that the virus is under control and restrictions can safely be lifted. The JW Marriott brand is slated to come to Jeju Island in South Korea with the planned opening of JW Marriott Jeju in late 2021. The company’s signature wellness brand, Westin, is also expected to debut in Goa this summer. Japan expects to have more than 30 Fairfield by Marriott hotels by the end of 2023. And Melbourne, Australia, is expected to see the opening of the country’s second W Hotel, with W Melbourne in spring and the opening of Melbourne Marriott Hotel Docklands in early 2021. “The strength of our pipeline is testament to the long-term growth prospects in Asia Pacific,” said Paul Foskey, chief development officer, Asia Pacific, Marriott International. “Despite a challenging environment in 2020, we are pleased with the signings we have achieved across the region during the year. We have full gratitude to our owners and franchisees for their belief in the resiliency of travel and the strength of Marriott’s portfolio of brands.”