Marriott International invests in tier II cities

To develop its four-star brand Courtyard in Amritsar, Chandigarh

Dinkar Farwaha - Mumbai

Smaller cities in the country have got a reason to smile. Marriott International has announced plans to develop its four-star brand Courtyard in two more emerging cities. Speaking exclusively to Express Hospitality at the fifth Marriott International India Road Show, which was held in Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi, Anant N Joshi, regional director, Marriott Hotels International, revealed, "We have signed a management contract to manage the upcoming Courtyard properties in Amritsar and Chandigarh."

This is in addition to the Courtyard properties that the group will manage in other tier II cities like Noida (210 rooms), Gurgaon (199 rooms) Pune (210 rooms), Ahmedabad (170 rooms) and Hyderabad as announced earlier. The group's strong expansion plans in such cities reiterates its faith in small cities and lays down a platform for an all-India growth. It is also developing a 129-unit executive apartment in Gurgaon.

Marriott International is also set to expand its other chains in India. "We are planning to open 15 new properties across the country with more than 3,000 rooms in the next three to four years," informed Joshi. Besides expanding the Courtyard brand, it is also expanding its luxury chains JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Renaissance Hotels & Resorts. It is developing three JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts, a Ritz-Carlton and a Renaissance Hotels & Resorts property in the country.

When asked about the group's plans to launch its other brands like Springhill Suites and Fairfield Inn in India, Joshi replied, "As of now our focus is on developing our luxury and four-star brands. We will be looking to launch others in the country after current expansions are over." When asked if the group is planning to launch its budget brand Fairfield Inn in India, Joshi said, "We will wait and see how the budget brands like Ginger and Peppermint fare in the market and then decide whether to launch Fairfield Inn here or not."