Marriott launches its first dual branded hotel in India

Bengaluru: Marriott International Inc., the Bethesda, Maryland-based luxury lodging service provider, opened its first dual branded property—Courtyard and Fairfield—in Bengaluru with an investment of around Rs.300 crore.

The new 336-room hotel (under both brands) will take Marriott’s total in the country to 31 hotels, operated under various brands.

Global luxury hotels have increased their focus on the Indian market on account of growing demand coming in from tier II and III cities. According to a September 2015 report released by HVS Global Hospitality Services, a hospitality consulting firm, demand for hotels is set to increase in 2016 as occupancy rates were over 60% for the first time when compared to the previous five years.

Marriott is now looking to take its dual branded strategy forward with some of its upcoming projects in the country.

Craig S. Smith, president and managing director of Marriott International (Asia Pacific), said the dual-branded strategy helps save on operational and construction costs and gives customers two different experiences.

Savings on construction is almost 20%, according to Ashish Jakhanwala, managing director and CEO, Samhi Hotels Pvt Ltd, a hotel asset company that specialises in development, acquisition and ownership of branded hotels.

Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands.

Marriott will look to add 1,200 rooms to its already operational 8,000 plus rooms in India, Rajeev Menon, chief operating officer (Asia Pacific excluding China), said.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.