Hospitality major Marriott India is focusing on developing its luxury hotel portfolio and plans to increase the share of luxury brands to around 35% from the current 20%, primarily in the leisure segment. The company has signed properties in luxury destinations such as Ranthambore, Shimla, Solan and Udaipur.
In less than two years, Marriott has signed 24 hotels, and a third are in the luxury segment, Ranju Alex, region vice president, South Asia, said in an interview. “One thing we have seen after the pandemic is that people want to spend on luxury. They want experiences when they travel, and they want luxury. We see Marriott having a very strong footprint in the luxury segment and our launch of The St. Regis Goa this year is a big step in that direction,” said Alex.
St. Regis Hotels and Resorts is one of 30 hotel brands operated by American hotel management company Marriott International Inc.
The property, formerly The Leela Goa, is the second deal this month. It partnered with Ceres Hotels Pvt. Ltd. runs the hotel, which has 206 rooms. It is the second St. Regis hotel in India after Mumbai. “The airlines have increased the rates. Aircraft are full and the load is about 105% compared to 2019 in case of domestic travel, while the international load is close to 100%. People certainly have a tendency to pay. People are not only staying but also celebrating in hotels. We have seen a huge jump in weddings in our hotels and a lot of social gatherings,” she said.
Marriott India business had recovered to pre-Covid levels, but there was room for growth in international trade. “We’re hoping that will be done by December because it looks good for our hotels.”
Its business was back on track in April after the Omicron wave. “That is why there was a jump in room occupancy and average daily rates till May-June,” she said.
In July, Marriott International also signed an agreement to bring in five new hotels in Jharkhand and West Bengal. The company said these properties will open in the next 2-4 years with local partner BK Group. The agreement is expected to add around 700 rooms to the existing portfolio of over 26,000 rooms and 134 hotels in India. There are around 150,000 branded hotel rooms in India.
Hotels will be launched in Ranchi, Asansol, Maithon and Deoghar under the brands The Le Meridien, Courtyard by Marriott and Fairfield by Marriott. It will add 200 hotels to its portfolio in India with over 3,500 rooms by 2025.
Its Indian portfolio includes 16 brands, with 63 hotels serving select service hotels such as Courtyard, Fairfield, Four Points and Aloft, while 29 luxury hotels under brands such as The Ritz-Carlton, W Hotels, The St. Regis are in space. , JW Marriott, Luxury Collection (ITC) Hotel. In addition, 42 hotels are in the premium segment under the Sheraton, Le Meridien, Renaissance, Marriott Hotels, Marriott Executive Apartments, Westin and Tribute portfolio brands.
It is also working on bringing the Moxy brand to India. It operates 30 brands globally.
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