The luxury travel boom has kicked into another gear as Marriott International prepares to hit the accelerator in 2018 with almost 40 luxury properties to open throughout the world among 200 in the pipeline.
Marriott International is set to open almost 40 luxury hotels next year to expand upon its diverse offering of “transformative travel” experiences.
Providing globetrotters with a portfolio of eight distinct luxury brands, Marriott International Luxury Brands include world renowned hospitality hallmarks The Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, St. Regis, W Hotels, The Luxury Collection, EDITION and JW Marriott.
With properties already in 60 countries, Marriott International is set to expand its luxury footprint yet further with 200 hotels in the development pipeline, representing 25 new countries from Iceland and Nepal to Cuba and the Philippines.
“From former palaces in Venice and Vienna, to skyscrapers in Hong Kong and Dubai, to intimate, remote escapes in the Maldives and Mexico, the breadth of our portfolio is incomparable and allows us to surpass the expectations of our guests around the globe,” said Tina Edmundson, Global Brand Officer, Marriott International.
“We see luxury as a launch pad for self-actualization, with bucket lists evolving from where you want to go to who you can be. With data showing a global shift in perception around luxury, we are uniquely positioned to provide personalised and truly differentiated experiences that resonate with this next-generation jetsetter.”
Results are in: the future of luxury is bright
A global luxury study conducted in partnership with industry intelligence platform Skift revealed the No.1 priority for luxury travellers is centered around “transformative travel and authentic experiences” that provide a new perspective on the world.
“Today’s global luxurian defies traditional stereotypes, moving far beyond the antiquated notion of ‘time’ being the ultimate luxury,” Edmundson said. “Our guests are on a journey towards personal fulfillment, seeking meaningful and purposeful travel experiences that speak to their inner, idealized selves.
“Whether that be creating a signature dish at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman’s Culinary Studio, prioritizing wellness by tapping into on-demand fitness with JW Marriott’s Behind the Barre program, recharging in an over-water villa at The St. Regis Maldives or exploring one of the world’s most energetic cities through a W Insider.”
With a new lens on luxury and focus on the fast-evolving expectations and aspirations of the global traveler, Marriott International elevates travel with highly contextualized, nuanced brand experiences that signal the future of luxury.
“Access is the new authentic, and our brands are portals to diverse cultures and one-off travel moments,” said Edmundson.
The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis defining the luxury landscape
The Ritz-Carlton, with 94 hotels in 31 countries, will continue to set the standard in luxury in 2018.
Known for creating exceptional experiences, the brand recently celebrated the opening of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel de La Paix, Geneva, and in 2018 is slated to debut six locations, including China’s historical city Nanjing.
Next year will also see renovations of key properties including The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin and The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul. With three Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties open, the debut of Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Los Cabos “will further define the brand’s ability to create an intimate, culturally immersive experience that is set apart by heartfelt care and human connection” according to the Marriott team.
St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, with 42 hotels in 21 countries today, is scheduled to celebrate the renovation of The St. Regis Rome next year, as well as openings in destinations such as Cairo and Amman. This follows recent debuts, including The St. Regis Shanghai Jingan and The St. Regis Astana.
Check out our 8 Great Luxury Hotels of the World featuring Ritz-Carlton Koh Samui
Luxury Rebel W Hotels Spins Explosive Global Footprint
Scheduled to reach 75 hotels by 2020, W Hotels skillfully balances the power of a global brand with the relevance and personality of a local insider. This year the iconic lifestyle brand electrified the skyline with the premiere of W Shanghai – The Bund and debuted the next generation of boundary-pushing design in the United States with W Bellevue.
Defined by visionary design, edgy fashion and buzzing music programing W Hotels believes it sits alongside luxury, and is “not confined by it”. Next year will be a year of unprecedented growth for the brand with 8 hotels set to open, ranging from Tel Aviv and Dubai to Brisbane and Panama City.
EDITION Set to Reach 20 Properties by 2020
With seven new properties scheduled to launch across three continents, and many more in the pipeline, 2018 will mark a pivotal moment for EDITION.
Created through a groundbreaking partnership between boutique hotel creator and innovator Ian Schrager and Marriott International, the EDITION brand is slated to grow exponentially from a collection of four to 11 properties by the end of 2018.
Following The Sanya EDITION’s launch in December 2016, EDITION’s Asian presence will expand with two additional properties launching in Shanghai and Bangkok. In addition, the brand’s second and third European hotels are set for launch in Bodrum and Barcelona.
EDITION will launch its first outpost in the Middle East in Abu Dhabi, whilst EDITION’s plans to increase its US presence with two properties located in New York’s Times Square and West Hollywood.
The Luxury Collection Embodies Experiential Travel
A rapidly growing ensemble of 102 hotels in more than 30 countries around the world, The Luxury Collection takes guests on journeys to the world’s most inspiring places, enriching and transforming modern global travel with authentic and indigenous experiences.
From epicurean delights in the heart of iconic wine regions to city landmarks in Paris and Milan to historic masterpieces such Cristallo, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa nestled in the Italian Dolomites, the brand continues to offer global explorers hotels that define the destination.
The Luxury Collection is set to debut 10 properties next year including Los Cabos, Savannah, Vail and Okinawa.
Breathing new life into icons
Inspired by its legendary namesake, JW Marriott is a brand committed to cultivating enriching experiences for guests seeking approachable, modern luxury.
With 79 hotels and resorts in nearly 30 countries, including the recent openings of JW Marriott properties in Vancouver, Jaipur and Phu Quoc, an island oasis off the coast of Vietnam, the brand has openings slated for 2018 in Nashville and the Maldives.
JW Marriott will also continue to revitalize its global portfolio with multi-million dollar renovations in more than half of its properties, including JW Marriott Bangkok and Grosvenor House, a JW Marriott Hotel.
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