Marriott International yesterday announced it will add over 100 luxury hotels to Asia-Pacific in the near future, nearly doubling its regional portfolio of 113 hotels across eight luxury brands and accounting for half of its global growth in this sector.
China continues to contribute to around half of new hotels in the region with key cities such as Shanghai and Suzhou flagged for new properties, while emerging luxury destinations such as Tasmania and Sri Lanka are also on the cards, according to a Marriott statement.
Providing a snapshot of what’s to come at the ILTM conference, John Toomey, vice president, sales and distribution, Asia-Pacific, said a trio of Ritz-Carlton properties – in Langkawi (2017), Jiuzhaigou (3Q2017) and Koh Samui (2018) – will soon join the brand’s existing 24 in the region.
The Koh Samui property, to be the first Ritz-Carlton resort in Thailand, will feature 175 suites and pool villas, six dining experiences and two secluded beaches.
Marriott also plans to add four W Hotels to its Asia-Pacific portfolio of 10 in the next two years. The 374-key W Shanghai is set to open on June 30, followed by W Suzhou in August. Another two are expected to launch next year in Australia (Melbourne and Brisbane) as the first W Hotels in the country.
As well, JW Marriott will debut in the Maldives and India’s Jaipur this year, adding to the 32 hotels established under the JW Marriott flag in Asia-Pacific.
Now housing 27 hotels in Asia, Marriott’s selection of independent hotels, The Luxury Collection, is expected to make its first mark in Singapore this year. The Duxton Club will reside in two separate pre-war colonial heritage buildings – Duxton House and Duxton Terrace – within walking distance of each other.
Two hotels are expected to open under Marriott’s boutique Edition brand in the next 12 months, one in Bangkok and the other in Shanghai.
Bullish on the growth potential of luxury travel, Tooney said: “Luxury is no longer just for the few. We have 50 million luxury travellers in the world, (which is) set to grow another 50 per cent. This includes 200,000 HNWI expected to double over the next few years.
“Asian billionaires control more wealth than billionaires in North America and other regions around the world… and they’re spending on travel experiences, hotel accommodation and air tickets.”
Peggy Fang Roe, chief sales and marketing officer, Asia Pacific, added: “This region continues to see a growing number of HNWI, which combined with dynamic economic growth, has created a strong increase in demand for luxury hotel experiences.”
-reporting from ILTM Asia 2017
