Marriott International plans to open more than 30 luxury properties in 2019, adding to eight brand portfolios: The Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, St. Regis, W, The Luxury Collection, EDITION, JW Marriott, and Bulgari. Marriott is poised to expand its luxury footprint with more than 200 properties in the development pipeline, representing 20 new countries for the company’s luxury portfolio.
“Our eight unique luxury brands provide distinct experiences that appeal to different types of luxury travelers, no matter if your priority is residing at the best address in town, completely immersing yourself in your destination, or prioritizing your wellbeing,” said Tina Edmundson, global brand officer and luxury portfolio leader, Marriott International. “From the world’s most iconic destinations to the ultimate undiscovered gems, we are focused on elevating travel with highly contextualized, nuanced brand experiences that signal the future of luxury by allowing our guests to indulge their passions while sparking personal growth.”
A global luxury study conducted in partnership with creative agency Team One revealed that luxury travelers of today are traveling not just to discover the world, but also to discover something about themselves. “When it comes to experiences, people today are seeking more meaning and personal significance rather than just the opportunity to indulge,” Edmundson continued. “Travelers have become active participants in the trips they are taking—they are more engaged and vested than ever before. Ultimately, global luxurians are becoming ‘creators’ in every aspect of their travel experience and for this group, travel is no longer a departure from reality—it is the reality.”
“For our guests, we strive to go beyond offering moments of delight, to creating experiences that will profoundly inspire and transform,” added Edmundson.
The Ritz-Carlton
With six openings anticipated in the year ahead, the iconic luxury brand also expects to celebrate the opening of its 100th property. The brand is expected to return to Australia with the debut of The Ritz-Carlton, Perth and is slated to grow in China with the opening of The Ritz-Carlton, Xi’an. The brand will also open The Ritz-Carlton Rabat, Dar es Salam and The Ritz-Carlton, Mexico City. In addition, The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park, will complete a major renovation.
St. Regis
Currently offering more than 40 hotels in 20 countries and territories, St. Regis recently celebrated the renovation of The St. Regis Rome along with the opening of The St. Regis Zhuhai in China on the Pearl River Delta. In the coming year, St. Regis is planning to debut the André Fu-designed St. Regis Hong Kong and The St. Regis Venice on the Grand Canal. Finally, St. Regis is also expecting to bring its brand to Cairo.
W
W entered destinations including Brisbane, Amman and Costa Rica in 2018. The luxury brand also took festival experience off the field and onto hotel grounds with the global launch of WAKE UP CALL. The brand’s signature music festival series made stops at W Hollywood, W Barcelona, and W Bali. This year, eight hotels are projected to open, ranging from Aspen and Ibiza to Muscat and Melbourne. In addition, W continues to revitalize its global portfolio with multi-million-dollar renovations planned or underway at more than half its properties in North America, including W Washington D.C. and W San Francisco.
EDITION
In 2018, the EDITION brand doubled its footprint, growing from four properties to eight with openings in Shanghai, Bodrum, Barcelona, and Abu Dhabi. The lifestyle brand was created through a collaboration between boutique hotel creator and innovator Ian Schrager and Marriott International. Next up is the brand’s recent opening in New York City’s Times Square, with a West Hollywood property scheduled to open in Q2 2019.
The Luxury Collection
The Luxury Collection is a rapidly growing ensemble of 110 hotels in more than 30 countries and territories around the world. In 2018, the brand made its debut in Savannah with the opening of Perry Lane, expanded its footprint in Paris through Hôtel de Berri, and opened in Los Cabos with Solaz, among other openings. The Luxury Collection anticipates debuting nine properties this year in locations including Okinawa, Cesme, Buckinghamshire, and Budapest.
JW Marriott
JW Marriott has 84 hotels and resorts in nearly 30 countries and territories, including the recent opening of JW Marriott Nashville. This year, JW Marriott anticipates openings in the Maldives, Shanghai, and Savannah, Ga., among others.
