MARRIOTT International Inc said yesterday that it plans to increase its China portfolio by nearly 50 percent over the next three years to serve rapidly growing demand from domestic and international travelers.
"We will expand our China presence to 48 hotels by 2010, with another 32 hotels in the pipeline," J.W. Marriott Jr, chairman and chief executive officer of Marriott International, told reporters yesterday while attending the opening ceremony for the 341-room Renaissance Shanghai Yuyuan Hotel. "Over the next five to six years, we will have over 100 hotels in China."
The Bethesda, Maryland-based lodging company, which entered China in 1989 with the opening of the JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong, now operates 34 hotels in the country under seven brands, including JW Marriott, Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance and Courtyard.
On Tuesday, the US hotel giant said that it expects to more than double its portfolio in Beijing to 11 hotels by the 2008 Olympics to help accommodate the two million people expected to visit the city for the games. In November, the company will open the 588-room JW Marriott Hotel Beijing - marking its 3,000th property worldwide. The company runs now five hotels in the Chinese capital.
Around the world, Marriott operates under 18 brands in 68 countries and territories.
"We are thrilled to be part of these exciting times for China and Beijing and look forward to doing our part to help host a historic and memorable experience for all of our guests," Marriott said.
The hotelier has been expanding its operations rapidly in China over the past several years, growth that's been fueled by the country's expanding middle class and stronger business travel demand.
In less than 20 years, Marriott's portfolio in China has grown to more than 30 facilities offering more than 11,500 rooms in first- and second-tier cities. It plans to extend its presence to Nanning and Ningbo this year and to Hangzhou by 2009.