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As hospitality continue its recovery from the pandemic, global hotel operator Marriott International is expecting to open more than 20 properties in the Middle East by the end of the year, a top company official said.
Sandeep Walia, Chief Operating Officer-Middle East, Marriott International told Zawya Projects that across the Middle East, which includes Egypt and Turkey, the operator currently has a total over 170 properties in operation and 100 projects in the development pipeline.
“By the end of 2021 itself we will have over 20 openings in the region. In the UAE, we will have nearly 10 openings this year including the Residence Inn, which debuted earlier this year, the recent opening of The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm and the upcoming opening of The St. Regis Downtown Dubai.”
“In Egypt, we currently have eight projects in our development pipeline. Saudi Arabia is a market where we are also seeing some strong growth opportunities. Later this year, we will debut the JW Marriott brand in Riyadh, which will be an exciting addition to our growing luxury portfolio in the Kingdom.”
Sandeep Walia, Chief Operating Officer-Middle East, Marriott International.
Plans for 2022
Next year, Walid said, the company expects to add 10 more properties in Turkey, and open the Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah in Dubai and the JW Marriott Mena House Cairo in Egypt.
Another important market for the company in the Middle East is Qatar.
“Qatar is another exciting market for us. We currently have 11 properties across 10 of our brands in the market. We have number of properties in our pipeline that are expected to open by December 2022,” he disclosed.
Long-term focus
Walia pointed out that Egypt has always been long-term market for the company.
“Our legacy in Egypt dates back five decades. Today, we have 18 properties and over 6,000 rooms across eight well-positioned brands in this market, including St. Regis, The Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, Sheraton, Le Meridien and Marriott Hotels. Our portfolio in the country spans a wide range from luxury to lifestyle and from resorts to city hotels.
“As a part of our business model, we operate and franchise properties across the region. So, our growth in Egypt is a result of consistently working with and delivering value to our owners.”
As more travel corridors open, Egypt would be a top choice for regional and international travellers, said Walia.
“We are already seeing some positive demand into the country from the Gulf and Eastern Europe. The recent easing of pandemic restrictions will also help boost tourism and our business in the country,” he said.
The Marriott official said he is also hopeful about faster recovery in the Gulf region.
“We know that people are itching to travel again – to explore new destinations, discover new cultures and reunite with loved ones. The pent-up demand is a fantastic sign for the industry, and we've witnessed it time and time again across our region – when travel corridors are open, government restrictions are lifted, and the rollout of vaccinations increases.”
Covid-19 trends
He said Covid-19 has not only had a significant effect on the business but also on how hotels operate. Higher health and hygiene expectations on the part of customers has led to Marriott International introducing new hygiene protocols, which included new cleaning technologies, new cleaning regimens, providing guests more choice on housekeeping frequency and rolling out extensive training for people.
“Alongside our extensive cleanliness programmes, we'll continue to innovate through our Marriott Global Cleanliness Council and ensure our customers feel confident to travel once again,” said Walia.
As the hospitality industry plots its revival from the pandemic, Walia said leisure travel will be the first to come back and will remain front and centre of the industry's recovery. Secondly, the rise of 'bleisure' will also continue as more people pursue remote-working careers and want to make the most of trips.
From a luxury travel perspective, he said guests now expect immersive experiences at their favourite properties.
“At the same time, space and privacy are increasingly sought-after – and that's where our exclusive resorts, with private villas and pool access, really stand out,” he said.
Walia also pointed out that the company’s Marriott Bonvoy App has become increasingly popular with members due to the preference for contactless and contact-lite experiences throughout the pandemic.
“Offering mobile check-in and check-out, mobile chat requests with hotel staff, and wherever available, Mobile Key, the App is connecting our members to our hotels, delivering personalised guest experiences, and ultimately becoming a critical component of their journey,” he said.
He added that Marriott Bonvoy travel programme has more than 150 million members worldwide.
(Reporting by Marwa Abo Almajd; Editing by Anoop Menon)
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