Mubasher: Marriott International on Tuesday announced plans to add 19 new properties and over 3,000 rooms to its Middle East and Africa portfolio in 2019.
The expected additions will take place under the company’s expansion plans to increase its portfolio by 45% through adding more than 100 new properties and around 26,000 rooms across the region by the end of 2023, the US-based hospitality company said in a statement.
Marriott’s developments through 2023 have been estimated at about $8 billion of investment from property owners, the company added.
These investments are likely to offer over 20,000 new jobs across the region, according to the statement.
“Our growth across the Middle East and Africa is fuelled by a strong demand for our diverse range of well-established brands, each offering different attributes that cater to this region’s ever changing and evolving marketplace,” Marriott’s MEA chief development officer Jerome Briet said.
“This region continues to present us with opportunities to further grow and enhance our portfolio across new and established markets. While the majority of our growth will be through new-builds, we are seeing an increasing number of conversion opportunities, especially in the luxury space,” Briet continued.
The leading American company has opened five new properties in MEA year-to-date, the statement noted.
Marriott is expected to inaugurate 14 new properties in the region, bringing its MEA portfolio to nearly 270 properties and over 60,000 rooms by the end of 2019, the statement noted.
The company aims at expanding its luxury footprint in the region by over 70% by the end of 2023, with more than 25 luxury properties under development to meet the steady demand for luxury brands.
Furthermore, the company’s luxury portfolio is expected to grow this year following the opening of four new brands.
Following the recent opening of W Dubai, the inauguration of The Palm, as well as W Muscat, W Yas Island, and W Hotels is likely to grow the company’s portfolio in the region.
Marriott also revealed that the St. Regis brand would debut in Jordan and Egypt with the openings of The St. Regis Amman and The St. Regis Cairo.
The company’s iconic North Island is expected to be “of world-renowned hotels and resorts”, according to Marriott.
The JW Marriott brand is projected to mark its first entry into Oman with the opening of the JW Marriott Muscat Convention Center.
Accordingly, Marriott’s premium brands growth is likely to remain steady across the region with over 30 hotels expected to be added to the portfolio by the end of 2023.
Moreover, the company’s Autograph Collection is anticipated to debut in Kenya with the opening of Sankara Nairobi by the end of 2019.
As for the Saudi Arabian hospitality market, Marriott Hotels and Marriott Executive Apartments have been cementing their presence in the kingdom with the recent openings in the Diplomatic Quarter of Riyadh, in addition to the anticipated opening of Marriott Executive Apartments in Madinah this year.
Additionally, Marriott Hotels is set to open its second property in the Algerian capital of Algiers later this year.
Marriott has been also focusing on the renovation of its most global brand, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, in the MEA region, including Sheraton Jeddah Hotel and Sheraton Grand Hotel, the statement added.
The company unveiled that Four Points by Sheraton is projected to add four properties to its portfolio in 2019 after the recent openings in Sharjah, UAE and Setif, Algeria, including Four Points by Sheraton Dar es Salaam New Africa in Tanzania and Four Points by Sheraton Lahore in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Residence Inn by Marriott will debut in Algeria with the opening of Residence Inn by Marriott Algiers this year.
The company’s brand Protea Hotels plans expansion in Uganda with the opening of Protea Hotel by Marriott Naguru Skyz.
Marriott also said that its brand Element Hotels would make its debut in Africa with the opening of Element Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.
