The view from the upcoming Rissal Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve property. Photo Credit: Marriott International
Marriott International has ambitious plans for China this year, in the form of 47 new hotels totaling 12,000 guest rooms. The expansion will bring the hotel company's portfolio in the country to more than 150,000 rooms across 500 properties. Marriott's footprint will grow across key regions, with significant development in the Yangtze Delta region, the Greater Bay Area and the Bohai Rim Economic Circle.
“Greater China’s domestic travel base has proven tremendously resilient, and we expect that to continue and to evolve positively along with international travel dynamics,” said Yibing Mao, president of Greater China for the hotel giant. “With an eye on changing guest demand, we are strategically building our portfolio under the ‘Brand + Destination’ strategy and matching brands with complementary destinations to inspire more guests to explore the region.”
Among the new properties will be Rissai Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, near the Jiuzhaigou Valley in the Sichuan Province; the W Macau–Studio City; and the JW Marriott Hotel Xi’an.
Set in a nature reserve, the Rissai Valley will feature 87 private villas and immersive experiences rooted in the history, culture and natural beauty of the destination. The 557-room W Macau–Studio City, scheduled to debut in the third quarter of this year, will feature a W Sound Suite, the brand’s signature on-site recording studio. Later in the year, the 333-room JW Marriott Hotel Xi’an in the Xi’an Economic and Technological Development Zone will offer panoramic views of the city and two dining options: JW Kitchen and Jin Wei Court Chinese Restaurant.
Bringing in Premium Brands
Marriott International will add 20 properties under the company’s premium brands, including Westin, Sheraton, Marriott, Delta, Le Méridien, Autograph Collection and Tribute Portfolio hotels.
Sheraton Hotels & Resorts will debut in four destinations — Beihai, Ninghai, Xuzhou and Taizhou — while six new Marriott Hotels will open in emerging cities, such as Shaoxing, Foshan and Shantou.
The Westin brand will be coming to Shenyang of the Liaoning province and to Yantai, the core city of the Bohai Economic Rim, while an Autograph Collection Hotel will be unveiled in Qingdao of the Shandong province. Delta Hotels by Marriott plans to welcome two new properties, in the historic city of Xi’an of Shaanxi province and the nature reserve of Jiuzhaigou.
Growing Select-Service Brands
Select-service properties will represent more than half of Marriott International’s openings across Greater China this year, with 24 planned hotels flying flags from either Courtyard by Marriott Hotels, Four Points by Sheraton Hotels, Fairfield by Marriott, AC Hotels by Marriott, Aloft Hotels or Element Hotels. They will debut in emerging cities and destinations, such as Yuyao and Zhuji in the Zhejiang province, and Qiongzhong in the Hainan province.