BETHESDA, MD—Marriott International Inc. is projecting to open more than 30 luxury properties in 2020 as the company focuses on creating the future of high-end travel through its portfolio of distinct luxury brands.
Marriott has more than 185 luxury properties in its signed development pipeline that could add more than 15 new countries and territories to the company’s luxury portfolio, from Iceland to Montenegro and the Philippines.
“Celebrating the distinct nature and individuality of our luxury brands, Marriott International offers a diverse variety of nuanced brand experiences that speak to the needs of the modern luxury traveler,” said Tina Edmundson, global brand officer and luxury portfolio leader, Marriott International. “Across our luxury brands portfolio, we will continue to incubate innovation and apply fresh thinking, both at the brand level and across our individual hotels, as we seek to be future forward, push boundaries and continue to raise the bar by creating new, unexpected and enriching guest experiences.”
Tony Capuano, EVP/global chief development officer, Marriott International, added, “Our plan to open more than 30 luxury properties in 2020—an average of about three exciting new hotels per month—speaks to the remarkable momentum that brands such as St. Regis, The Ritz-Carlton and Edition have with affluent travelers, our Marriott Bonvoy members and hotel developers around the world. Each year, our luxury portfolio continues to grow in both quality and quantity in strategic destinations around the world.”
In looking at the future of luxury hospitality, Marriott International collaborated with a team of trend forecasters at The Future Laboratory to better understand the attitudinal shifts that are creating a new genre of travelers.
“The concept of transformative travel—travel motivated and defined by a shift in perspective, self-reflection and development—has become more pronounced and it has given rise to ‘The Purposeful Luxurian,’ a new breed of traveler that is more progressive, proactive and looking to affect positive change,” said Edmundson. “This new global explorer views travel as a way to improve physical and mental well-being, as well as a means to do good. We are defining the future of luxury travel by creating the real, rare and personal experiences this new Purposeful Luxurian craves.”
The Ritz-Carlton
The Ritz-Carlton recently opened its 100th property with the debut of The Ritz-Carlton, Perth and expanded the Ritz-Carlton Reserve portfolio to four properties with the opening of Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Los Cabos, Mexico. In the coming year, the brand is expected to arrive in Morocco for the first time, with the planned opening of The Ritz-Carlton Rabat, Dar es Salam in the country’s capital. The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko is slated to expand the brand’s footprint in Japan, while a property in Mexico City is also expected.
Overlooking Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale, AZ, The Ritz-Carlton, Paradise Valley is slated to grow the brand’s resort portfolio, while the brand also anticipates an opening in Nanjing, China, expects to see the completion of a major renovation of The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach, and continues to work toward the inaugural voyage of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection expected in June 2020.
St. Regis
The St. Regis brand recently grew its footprint in Europe with the opening of The St. Regis Venice, with an outdoor garden and a location on the Grand Canal. Currently offering 45 hotels in more than 20 countries and territories, the brand in the year ahead expects to introduce St. Regis to Cairo.
Additionally, the brand expects to expand its resort portfolio with the opening of The St. Regis Kanai Resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico. The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm is also slated to open in 2020.
W Hotels
This year, W Hotels opened in destinations including Dubai; Abu Dhabi; Muscat, Oman; Ibiza, Spain; and Aspen, CO, the brand’s first Alpine destination in the U.S. Multimillion-dollar renovations by owners are underway or completed at more than half the brand’s properties in North America, including W Washington DC and W San Francisco. In addition, the company has plans to transform W New York – Union Square into a W Hotels showcase, advancing a larger strategy to redefine and reinvigorate the W portfolio in North America. Also underway is the addition of W Nashville to the brand’s portfolio. The brand also has 2020 expected openings in Philadelphia; Toronto; Chengdu, China; and Melbourne, Australia. The brand is also slated to debut in Italy with the planned openings of W Milan and W Rome.
Edition
In 2019, Edition debuted The Times Square Edition in New York and The West Hollywood Edition in Los Angeles. The lifestyle brand is slated to open in Reykjavik, Iceland, in 2020. The brand is also expected to open Tokyo and Dubai.
The Luxury Collection
In 2019, The Luxury Collection opened North Island, Seychelles, the portfolio’s first private island destination, and welcomed properties in Cyprus; Nanning, China; Buckinghamshire, England; Kolkata, India; and Çeşme, Turkey. The brand anticipates openings in Nashville, TN, and Budapest, Hungary (Matild Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Budapest), as well as Hobart, Australia.
JW Marriott
JW Marriott recently debuted the JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa. Expected to reach more than 115 hotels by 2022, the year 2020 is slated to be a period of rapid growth for the brand, with planned U.S. openings in Savannah, GA; Orlando, FL; and Anaheim, CA, in addition to global destinations ranging from Istanbul and Danang, Vietnam, to Nara, Japan; Muscat, Oman and Monterrey, Mexico.
