Marriott International announced plans to expand its independent hotel brands this week during the 39th Annual NYU International Hospitality Investment Conference in New York.
Following its acquisition of Starwood Hotels and Resorts last year, Marriott now boasts more than 240 independent hotels across three brands—the Luxury Collection, Autograph Collection Hotels, and Tribute Portfolio. Each brand is forecasted to grow 20 percent this year, while more than 40 properties are scheduled for opening across the globe. The three-brand collection is on schedule to grow by 50 percent by 2019.
“Marriott is now able to offer more choices than ever, especially for owners and guests who prefer an independent hotel experience,” says Marriott International president and CEO Arne M. Sorenson. “We doubled our portfolio of independent hotels with the acquisition of Starwood and significantly increased our global footprint. The growth projected for the next few years underscores the demand Marriott is seeing for more customized, local experiences.”
The Luxury Collection includes over 100 hotels in 30-plus countries and territories, with notable outposts including the Gritti Palace in Venice and Santa Marina, a Luxury Collection Resort, in Mykonos. The Luxury Collection will debut in three new countries this year and launch its first ski resorts—Cristallo, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa in Cortina, Italy, and Hotel Talisa, a Luxury Collection Resort in Vail, Colorado.
One of Marriott’s fastest growing brands, the Autograph Collection boasts approximately 120 hotels in nearly 30 countries. Openings are scheduled in China and Malaysia this year, while a South Korea hotel is set to arrive in 2018. Autograph’s North American pipeline includes 47 signed hotels to be rolled out over the next several years.
The Tribute Portfolio comprises 20 hotels with 14 in its pipeline, which span Asia Pacific, Europe, and North and South America. It will welcome the Wick hotel in New York this fall.
