Marriott Hotels Big Renovation
The Chain Wants to be Seen as Global Player, not just American.
Marriott Hotels International is undertaking a massive upgrade of their properties in Middle East, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Caribbean and Latin America at a cost of $1.2 bl.
Hotels are under great pressure these days to be innovative and stylish, whether they are offered as boutique hotels or grand hotels in the old style. It’s not just rooms and furnishings, public spaces and leisure centres, that have to be constantly updated, it is also the amenities on offer, the technology, and the spas that need renewing (and the treatments constantly upgraded).
On Hotel chain that is about to undertake a massive renovation of its properties, is the Marriott chain which is expanding fast to meet the needs of today’s travellers. They have recently announced an investment of $1.2 billion (£600 million) just to renovate selected hotels in the Middle East, the UK, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Caribbean and Latin America.
Among those to benefit from upgrades are 15 Renaissance and Courtyard branded establishments located in Amsterdam, Budapest, Cologne, Hamburg, Moscow, Paris, Prague, Vienna, and Zurich. There will be eleven country club hotels in the UK renovated plus an unnamed, as yet, 14 other UK properties. Only one Middle East property so far is included, the Cairo Marriott in Egypt.
London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, which Marriott acquired in 2004 from Le Meridien, should see its $199m (£100 million) renovations completed by mid-2008 and it is hoped that this will restore the property to its former glory. The Great Room, originally an indoor ice rink, is an impressive 6,705 sq. metres and seats more than 2,000. The essential facility in today’s luxury hotels – a spa – will also be included.
In a move away from tradition, the original name, The Grosvenor House Hotel will be retained, as it’s a property with a long, distinguished, history, but Marriott is hoping that their branding will bring the hotel back to life. A large number of the clientele for this new style hotel will be expected to come from the Middle East.
Mariott International has for some time now focused on the Asian, Middle East and Russian markets, as they strive for global recognition instead of being regarded as an American chain as they once were.
Marriott wants guests to enjoy a special experience that will reflect the hotels and the locale in which they stay, while still having the advantage of state of the art technology. Two hotels already in operation show the innovating and stylish features that provide a sense of place and time, the famous old Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin and the Rive Gauche Hotel in Paris.
