Marriott to Open More Than 30 New Luxury Hotels in 2019
Brands like JW Marriott, Ritz-Carlton and Edition will see properties in Australia, China, Turkey and other major global destinations.
Marriott International is big and getting even bigger. The company, which now numbers 30 brands, said it will double down on its presence in the luxury segment this year by opening more than 30 new properties and planting flags in 20 new countries, including Bermuda, Kenya, Morocco and Sri Lanka. That expanded high-end footprint will see some seriously new additions from the company's Bulgari, Edition, JW Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, St. Regis, Luxury Collection and W brands, which already dominate the luxury space.
"Our eight unique luxury brands provide distinct experiences that appeal to different types of luxury travelers, no matter if your priority is residing at the best address in town, completely immersing yourself in your destination or prioritizing your well being," said Tina Edmundson, global brand officer and luxury portfolio leader for Marriott. "From the world's most iconic destinations to the ultimate undiscovered gems, we are focused on elevating travel with highly contextualized, nuanced brand experiences that signal the future of luxury by allowing our guests to indulge their passions while sparking personal growth."
In 2018, the Edition brand doubled its footprint, growing from four properties to eight with openings in Shanghai; Bodrum, Turkey; Barcelona, Spain; and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Earlier this month, the lifestyle brand, which was created in 2008 through a collaboration between Marriott international and New York City boutique hotel innovator Ian Schrager, debuted the 452-room Times Square Edition. Up next is a West Hollywood property set to open in Q2 2019.
JW Marriott is building on its portfolio of 84 hotels. Last July the brand celebrated the opening of the 533-room JW Marriott Nashville with over 50,000 square feet of meeting and event space. Later this year it will open the 419-room JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District in Georgia, which will anchor a $280 million mixed-use development, as well as one each in the Maldives and Shanghai.
Known globally for its legendary service and sumptuous design, Ritz-Carlton will return to Australia this year with the opening of 204-suite Ritz-Carlton, Perth, which will be part of a multi-use development in the city's Elizabeth Quay district overlooking the Swan River. The brand also will grow its portfolio in China with the debut of the Ritz-Carlton, Xi'an, in addition to opening its second hotel in Morocco and its third in Mexico, the 153-room Ritz-Carlton, Mexico City.
St. Regis, which currently has 40 hotels around the world, will expand its footprint in a number of major global destinations this year, including Cairo, Hong Kong and Venice, Italy.
Meanwhile, W hotels which opened properties in Amman, Jordan; Brisbane, Australia; and Costa Rica in 2018, will continue its aggressive expansion this year with eight more openings, including hotels in Aspen, Colo.; Melbourne, Australia; Ibiza, Spain; and Muscat, Oman. In addition, more than half of W's North American portfolio is slated to begin multimillion-dollar renovations this year, including the 317-room W Washington D.C., which will undergo a $50 million overhaul.
Marriott's elite luxury brand, the Luxury Collection, which now numbers 110 hotels in more than 30 countries, will debut nine more properties this year in coveted locations such as Budapest, and Okinawa, Japan.
Source: NorthstarMeetingsGroup.com
