Business | Tourism
Marriott to open five Courtyards in Dubai
The US-based lodging group Marriott International plans to open at least five of its Courtyard brand of hotels in Dubai within the next five years.
- By Kenneth D'Souza, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 October 2, 2006
- Image Credit:
- Dubai has a 164-room Courtyard by Marriott at the Greens Community.
Paris: The US-based lodging group Marriott International plans to open at least five of its Courtyard brand of hotels in Dubai within the next five years.
This was disclosed by Donald E. Gibson, Marriott's international vice-president for Courtyard, in Paris on Thursday.
He was speaking to Gulf News on the sidelines of the opening of Marriott's new Courtyard prototype for the European region.
The 150-room Paris Courtyard by Marriott in Colombes is the first of approximately 50 Courtyard hotels that the group will open in Europe in the next 5 years. The pricing will be 20-30 per cent lower than other four-star hotels in that region.
Lodging portfolio
While the European Courtyard prototype is mainly aimed at business travellers looking for functional amenities that serve the purpose of their trip, and at a reasonable price, the ones coming up in Dubai and the rest of the Middle East will offer a lot more in terms of space, luxury and services.
"The Middle East market is certainly one we cannot ignore," said June Farrell, Marriott's vice-president for international public relations, adding that the Courtyard brand will take into account the tastes and demands of travellers of the region.
From its first opening in 1983, the Courtyard brand has grown to be Marriott's largest and the world's 13th largest lodging chain with more than 700 hotels in 24 countries.
Dubai has a 164-room Courtyard by Marriott at the Greens Community, while plans have earlier been announced by the group for a 300-room Courtyard by Marriott Riverwalk Internet City and a 120-room Marriott Executive Apartments Riverwalk Internet City, both scheduled for completion in 2008.
The group's lodging portfolio in Dubai currently includes the 351-room JW Marriott, the 281-room Renaissance Dubai, the 172-unit Marriott Executive Apartments Dubai and a 43-unit Marriott Executive Apartments Green Community.
By the end of 2008, Marriott will have 31 hotels in the Middle East, offering more than 8,600 rooms across five lodging brands in eight countries.
Globally, Marriott International has nearly 2,800 lodging properties totalling more than 500,000 rooms.
By the river side
Dubai has a 164-room Courtyard by Marriott at the Greens Community, and plans were earlier announced for a 300-room Courtyard by Marriott Riverwalk Internet City and a 120-room Marriott Executive Apartments Riverwalk Internet City, both scheduled for completion in 2008.
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