Hotel chain Marriott International is to cash in on increased tourism in the Middle East by growing its hotel portfolio in the region by half over the next three years.
The company today announced eight new openings for 2009 in the United Arab Emirates and the emirates of Ras Al-Khaimah and Sharjah.
The eight hotels are the 300-room Ras Al-Khaimah Marriott Resort & Spa; the 248-room Sharjah Marriott Resort & Spa; the 125-unit Marriott Executive Apartments Sharjah; the170-room JW Marriott Hotel Dubai Lifestyle City; the152-room Courtyard by Marriott Dubai Lifestyle City; the 46-unit Marriott Executive Apartments Dubai Lifestyle City; the 356-room Renaissance Dubai Motorcity; and the 250-room Courtyard by Marriott Dubai Motorcity.
Also scheduled to open in the next three years are the 171-unit Marriott Executive Apartments Cairo Nile Dolphin; 300-room JW Marriott Aqaba Resort in Jordan; the 190-unit Bahrain Marriott Executive Apartments (2007); the 257-room Renaissance Doha Hotel (2008); the 204-room Courtyard by Marriott Doha (2008); the 123-unit Marriott Executive Apartments Doha (2008); the 323-room Renaissance Bahrain Amwaj Island Hotel (2008); and the 300-room Renaissance Dubai Marina (2010).
The move is part of a global growth strategy in which Marriott International aims to increase its hotel portfolio by 85,000 to 100,000 rooms over the next three years, with a third of the growth coming outside of North America.