Marriott is planning to introduce its premium ‘Edition Boutique Hotels’ in India soon.
Edition brand has been created in partnership with boutique hotel pioneer Ian Schrager. Each hotel has its rare individuality, authenticity and unique ethos reflecting the best of its location, Arne M Sorenson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Marriot International, told Business Line .
The group has identified New Delhi to set up its premium hotel brand – Edition- India. “We plan to set up our first ‘Edition Boutique Hotel’ in India in the next few years,” Sorenson said.
The hotel group in the last couple of years, through management contract basis, has introduced brands such as Courtyard, Fairfield, Marriott and Renaissance in India. “We are to open The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott in India later this year,” Sorenson.
“Driven by our customers, along with different lodging segment, we are planning to concentre on setting up more Marriott Executive Apartments (MEAs) in select cities,” he added.
The hotel group has 3,700 properties in 74 countries and has reported revenues of over $12 billion in fiscal year 2011. Sorenson said, “Despite gloomy economy in US and Europe, we grew by 6 per cent in 2012 and expect to perform at similar level in 2013 as well.”
According to Rajeev Menon, Area Vice-President, South Asia and Australia, Marriott Hotels India, “We expect to grow from 15 to over 50 hotels across seven brands, creating 8,000 new jobs in the next three years.”
“India has about as many branded hotel rooms as Orlando, Florida in the US. So, we feel very confident that there’s plenty of room for growth in the country,” he added.
Talking about Bangalore market, Menon said, “The city has tremendous potential for business and hospitality growth. We have made an obvious choice to introduce our signature brand by opening ‘Bengaluru Marriott Hotel Whitefield’.
“The property in Bangalore is India’s fifth and Bangalore’s first, this property embodies the brand philosophy of inspiring and energising the performance of its patrons. We foresee this property growing to be the next community centre of Whitefield,” he said.