Global hospitality giant Marriott International aims to boost its Middle East and Africa (MEA) portfolio with the opening of 19 new properties this year, thus adding a total of 3,000 new rooms into the market.

Underpinning a strong demand for its diverse brands, the new additions are in line with the company’s expansion plans to add more than 100 new properties and nearly 26,000 rooms across the region by the end of 2023.

Marriott estimates its development pipeline through 2023 represents up to $8 billion of investment from property owners and is expected to generate over 20,000 new jobs across the region.

“Our growth across the Middle East and Africa is fuelled by a strong demand for our diverse range of well-established brands, each offering different attributes that cater to this region’s ever-changing and evolving marketplace,” remarked Jerome Briet, chief development officer, Middle East & Africa.

“This region continues to present us with opportunities to further grow and enhance our portfolio across new and established markets. While the majority of our growth will be through new-builds, we are seeing an increasing number of conversion opportunities, especially in the luxury space,” he stated.

Year-to-date, the company has opened five new properties in the region and is expected to add 14 more - bringing its portfolio across the Middle East and Africa to nearly 270 properties and over 60,000 rooms - by the end of the year.

Marriott is poised to expand its luxury footprint in the region by more than 70 per cent in the next four years, with more than 25 luxury properties under development. The company expects to grow its luxury portfolio in 2019 with seven anticipated openings across four brands W Dubai, St. Regis, The Luxury Collection and JW Marriott.

The growth of Marriott’s premium brands remains steady across the region with more than 30 hotels expected to be added to the portfolio by the end of 2023. By the end of 2019, it will add four more hotels under its premium portfolio for the region.-TradeArabia News Service