Marriott International reports robust room signings and additions across the Caribbean and Latin America in 2023. The company nearly doubled its number of organic deal signings in the region versus the prior year, signing 57 transactions and nearly 7,300 rooms in 2023 to reach a pipeline of 24,000 rooms across the region at the end of last year.
In 2023, the company added more than 170 properties to Marriott's portfolio in CALA, growing its footprint to nearly 500 properties, including hotels and residences, and nearly 87,000 rooms across 37 countries and territories. At year-end, Marriott's hotel pipeline in CALA stood at 155 properties and 24,000 rooms.
"We are pleased to report a great year of growth for Marriott in the CALA region, with strong development activity in 2023," Laurent de Kousemaeker, chief development officer for Marriott International in the Caribbean and Latin America, said in a statement. "With continuing momentum in conversions, and our ongoing expansion across numerous segments, including luxury and all-inclusive, we remain focused on providing our guests and owners with more best-in-class options. We see exceptional opportunities in the region across all segments, but particularly in midscale with the new City Express by Marriott brand, opening up fresh possibilities in this segment throughout the region."
City Express by Marriott
In 2023, the company positioned CALA as the launchpad for the company's entry into the high-growth affordable midscale segment with the acquisition of the City Express brand portfolio. With 150 properties and approximately 17,500 rooms across Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Chile, the deal increased Marriott's footprint in the region by approximately 45 percent. In 2024, the City Express by Marriott brand is expected to further expand with new properties across the region.
Luxury Growth in the Region
Marriott has 60 properties across six of the seven global luxury brands of the company. Opening highlights in 2023 included the debut of The Riviera Maya Edition at Kanai (Mexico) in November 2023, and The St. Regis Kanai Resort (Mexico) earlier in the year. Anticipated luxury openings in 2024 include the JW Marriott Sint Maarten Beach Resort (Sint Maarten); Almare, a Luxury Collection All-inclusive Resort Isla Mujeres (Mexico); Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve; Papagayo (Costa Rica); The St. Regis Aruba (Aruba); W Punta Cana, All-Inclusive; The St. Regis Cap Cana Resort (Dominican Republic); and W Sao Paulo (Brazil). The region holds a luxury pipeline of 34 properties and over 5,000 rooms.
Conversions
Hotel conversions continue to have momentum in the CALA. Nearly 35 percent of Marriott's rooms signings in the region in 2023 were conversions, including the recently announced Villa Lapas, Autograph Collection (Costa Rica); Aloft Guadalajara Country Club; Sheraton Guadalajara Expo and Delta Hotels Puebla (Mexico); and Las Terrenas, Autograph Collection (Dominican Republic). Hoteliers and investors are leveraging the efficiencies and advantages of renovating and rebranding existing properties throughout the region.
All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott's all-inclusive resort portfolio in the region has 31 open all-inclusive properties in CALA located across nine markets (Mexico - Riviera Nayarit & Cancun, Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua & Barbuda, St. Lucia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Grenada and Brazil) and four brands (Autograph Collection, Delta, Westin and Luxury Collection), and 18 additional properties in the signed pipeline. The company recently signed the second Ritz-Carlton All-Inclusive property in the region to be located on the shores of Yanuna, Dominican Republic, along with a Luxury Collection All-Inclusive Resort to bring unparalleled luxury to the Dominican Republic.
Expected all-inclusive openings for 2024 in the region include Almare, a Luxury Collection All-inclusive Resort Isla Mujeres (Mexico); W Punta Cana, All-Inclusive (Dominican Republic); and the rebranding of several Elegant Hotels properties (Treasure Beach, The House, and Waves) into the Autograph Collection brand in Barbados, which will bring Marriott's global all-inclusive roster to 49 open and pipeline properties across 12 markets and 10 brands. Six of the pipeline properties are slated to open in 2024.
Branded Residences Portfolio
The popularity of branded residences in CALA is experiencing a surge of customer demand. Marriott currently offers 15 open locations in 11 markets across the region. Anticipated residential openings in 2024 include The Residences at The St. Regis Kanai Resort (Mexico); Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve Residence; Papagayo (Costa Rica); The Residences at The St. Regis Cap Cana Resort (Dominican Republic); and the W Residences Sao Paulo (Brazil). Globally, the company has a pipeline of 115 residential projects.