Marriott, Emaar to manage two more hotels

Global hospitality giant Marriott International and realty major Emaar MGF are tying up to manage two more luxury hotels in the country. The deal in this regard is expected to be signed in Mumbai tomorrow.

With this, the two companies will build and operate three hotels in the country. Marriott has already tied up with Emaar to operate a 300-room JW Marriott in Kolkata. BIG DEAL US-based Marriott International has six hotels in the country. It recently announced opening 18 new hotels by 201 Marriott has also tied with Delhi-based realty major Unitech to develop hotels in the country including Ritz-Carlton in Kolkata and JW Marriott in Hyderabad and Bangalore Banking on the acute shortage of hotel rooms in the country, a host of real-estate companies have announced hotel projects and tie-ups with international hospitality majors The new properties could come up in Pune and Chennai, sources said. However, total investments and the brand of the hotels could not be ascertained.

Confirming the development, Navjit Ahluwalia, vice-president, Hotel Development India and Indian Sub-continent, said, “We are taking forward our association with Emaar MGF by announcing two additional properties in India shortly.” Ahluwalia refused to divulge any further details.

US-based Marriott International has six hotels in the country, with 1,528 rooms in total. It recently announced opening 18 new hotels by 2011, taking its total tally to 25 hotels with a total of more than 4,500 rooms.

Its brands include luxury brand JW Marriott, upscale Marriott and Renaissance brands, its moderately-priced Courtyard by Marriott and deluxe Marriott Executive Apartments for travellers.

Among its 18 upcoming properties, five will be JW Marriotts in Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Kolkata, and Chandigarh, one Ritz-Carlton hotel in Bangalore, one Marriott hotel and convention centre in Pune, nine Courtyards by Marriott properties in Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Kolkata New Town, Noida, Pune City Center, Pune Hinjewadi and Mumbai International Airport, two Marriott Executive Apartments in Hyderabad and Gurgaon, and an expansion of the Renaissance Mumbai Hotel & Convention Center.

Marriott has also tied up with Delhi-based realty major Unitech to develop hotels in the country, including Ritz-Carlton in Kolkata, JW Marriott in Hyderabad and Bangalore, and manage two hotels in Mumbai owned by the Raheja group.

“We are thrilled by the continued growth of our lodging portfolio in India,” said Ed Fuller, the president and managing director of international lodging for Marriott International, while announcing Marriott’s India plans recently.

For the 175-room JW Marriott Hotel, Chandigarh, Marriott has already tied up with the Delhi-based Uppal group and for the 113-unit Jubilee Hills Hyderabad, Marriott Executive Apartments has partnered with Viceroy Hotels. NYSE-listed Marriott International had 3,000 hotel properties in 69 countries and territories worldwide and a top line of $12.2 billion for 2006.

Emaar MGF, a joint venture between Dubai-based Emaar and Delhi-based MGF, has announced major hospitality plans.

In June 2007, the company announced a 50:50 joint venture with Premier Inn, a unit of the UK’s hotel major Whitbread.

The JV is planning to invest Rs 2,400 crore ($600 million). Emaar has also tied up with another hotel company, Accor, to bring 100 Formula-1 hotels across India with an investment of Rs 1,200 crore ($300 million).

Banking on the acute shortage of hotel rooms in the country, a host of real estate companies has announced hotel projects and tie-ups with international hospitality majors.

Marriott, Emaar to manage two more hotels