Opening Marriott hotels in Asia

Marriott International marks 20 years in Asia; plans to open 57 hotels in the region over next four years

• Growth to include 15,000 new jobs in eight Asian countries including China, India and Thailand
• Marriott supports communities throughout Asia by donating US$4 million in cash and in-kind service over past two years as employees engage in 90,000 volunteer hours

Marriott International (NYSE:MAR) will officially celebrate its 20^th anniversary in Asia on February 27 with plans to expand its existing portfolio of 109 hotels by a further 57 properties offering 15,510 rooms over the next 48 months. This significant growth will also create more than 15,000 new jobs in the hospitality sector across Asia.

All of the new hotels, most of which have been previously announced, will be operated under long-term management contracts and will span the company’s luxury JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton, upscale Marriott and Renaissance, and upper moderately priced Courtyard brands and its Marriott Executive Apartments brand for extended stay travelers.   

“In just two decades, we have achieved substantial growth in Asia and generated tremendous awareness, customer preference and owner acceptance for our hotel brands throughout the region,” said Ed Fuller, Marriott’s president & managing director for international lodging.

“While we’ve experienced our most robust growth in China, India and Thailand have demonstrated significant strength in recent years.  Just last week in Shanghai, we marked the opening of our 800^th Courtyard by Marriott hotel worldwide; and last month, we announced the opening of six hotels this year in India which will double our presence in that country.”

Mr. Fuller said that among the many accolades Marriott-branded hotels have earned in the region over the years, it is most proud of the significant number of “Best Employer Awards” its hotels and resorts have attracted throughout region. 

“Despite current global economic and financial challenges, competition in the hospitality industry for service-minded, people-oriented employees is fierce and will intensify once we put this slowdown behind us,” he said.  “Because Marriott tends to promote from within, the hotels we plan to open over the next 48 months will offer an unprecedented opportunity especially for career-minded individuals who want to make their mark in the hotel business.” He noted that approximately 50 percent of Marriott’s leadership at the property level began their careers in line level positions.

“We put a lot of emphasis on training at all levels of the organization and offer hundreds of training courses annually for both hourly associates and managers worldwide. These courses are taught by certified trainers, professional experts and property-based managements,” Mr. Fuller continued. “Some courses are self-directed and include internet-based learning so that our associates can learn and grow at their own pace.”

Mr. Fuller also credited Marriott’s many community engagement initiatives throughout the region for its success in gaining customer acceptance 

“It’s an old maxim in business that people like to do business with people they like and with companies they perceive as doing the right thing,” he said.  “A major component of our corporate culture is to be a good corporate citizen and to invest time and effort in the communities we call home. We do this in order to help make these localities better places in which to live, work and visit.” 

He added that in just the past two years, Marriott International contributed US$1.8 million in cash and US$2 million in in-kind donations while supporting 1,500 different activities and initiatives throughout Asia.

“The best part is that, in addition to the donations, more than 36,000 members of our team across all organizational levels in Asia volunteered about 90,000 hours of their time in their communities,” he said.  “This is important because not only are our associates helping their neighbors; in many cases, they are also developing their managerial and leadership skills as they advance their careers.” 

Organizations supported through local activities include Red Cross, Operation Smile, Safe Kids and Habitat for Humanity as well as various environmental initiatives focused on tree planting and protecting wildlife.

Among Marriott International branded properties opening in Asia over the next 48 months are 21 hotels in China, 24 in India and eight in Thailand. Additionally, Marriott will open its first property in the Maldives and its first Courtyard-branded hotel in South Korea in 2010 and will introduce its JW Marriott brand in Vietnam in 2013.

Today, Marriott International’s Asian portfolio consists of 109 hotels and resorts and 39,313 rooms, in 13 Asian countries and territories and Australia.  The company’s first hotel in the region was the iconic JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong which officially opened on Feb. 27, 1989. Marriott International’s worldwide pipeline of hotels today totals over 130,000 rooms.