Monthly Archives: February 2020

815 signed hotel deals in 2019 expected to generate more than 70,000 new jobs worldwide

(from press release dated January 27, 2020)  Marriott International, Inc. today announced it signed a record number of rooms in 2019, pushing its global pipeline to approximately 515,000 rooms as of year-end 2019 for the first time in the company’s history. The company signed 815 agreements, representing more than 136,000 rooms, marking the seventh consecutive year of record-breaking volume of organic rooms signings. Growth was fueled by unprecedented levels of organic rooms signed in each of the company’s international regions. During 2019, the company added 516 properties with more than 78,000 rooms in 60 countries and territories – an average of one new property every 17 hours.

“With growth and loyalty as the cornerstones of our company’s success, our unrivaled 2019 signings illustrate our winning strategy, which combines leading brands, powerful business platforms and an enduring focus on our associates,” said Tony Capuano, Group President, Global Development, Design and Operations Services, Marriott International. “We continue to drive value for our owners with quality branding options for both property conversions and new builds, backed by our leading business support systems and loyalty platform. By staying true to our growth philosophy and continuously responding to the evolving preferences and lifestyles of travelers, we are poised for a successful 2020 and beyond.”

At the end of 2019, Marriott International’s worldwide system consisted of more than 7,300 properties and roughly 1.38 million rooms in 134 countries and territories. More than half of the company’s record global development pipeline is located outside North America.

“With 141 million Marriott Bonvoy members who increasingly crave travel to new cities and unique experiences around the world, a record-breaking year of deals means new, exciting properties are coming for travelers worldwide,” said Stephanie Linnartz, Group President, Consumer Operations, Technology & Emerging Businesses, Marriott International. “Our stellar growth results prove that our broad brand portfolio and platforms are resonating with owners and developers, as well as with customers.”

Record-setting year for growth in valuable international markets

In 2019, 53 percent of the company’s signed rooms were outside North America with record-breaking organic volumes in the company’s Asia Pacific (38,000 rooms), Europe (17,000 rooms), Caribbean and Latin America (more than 9,000 rooms), and Middle East and Africa (8,000 rooms) regions. Additionally, in 2019, Marriott International debuted its first hotels in four additional countries – Cyprus, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan and Latvia.

Company extends its lead in luxury

Marriott International did a record-breaking number of deals for its global luxury hotel brands, bolstering its lead in this high-value segment. In 2019, the company signed 42 luxury projects in 27 countries and territories, while opening or converting 34 properties such as The St. Regis Venice, W Dubai – The Palm, The West Hollywood EDITION and The Ritz-Carlton, Pune. As the company focuses on expanding its leading luxury footprint, it is revitalizing W Hotels. Last year, the company purchased the W New York – Union Square, with plans to transform the property into a showcase for the brand’s future look.

Successful all-inclusive launch

Last August, Marriott launched its all-inclusive platform to bring its brands, scale and trusted service to this growing, global vacation segment. Less than six months after its launch, the company has signed seven management and franchise agreements for all-inclusive properties representing nearly 3,200 rooms. Among the all-inclusive projects in development are an 800-room Marriott Hotels resort in Jamaica and a 240-room Ritz-Carlton resort in Mexico. The company last year also completed its acquisition of Elegant Hotels Group, which consists of seven hotels and 588 rooms located on the picturesque island of Barbados.

Affordable lifestyle hotel brands buoy company growth

Catering to the next generation of travelers, the company’s AC by Marriott, Aloft and Moxy brands opened nearly 10,000 rooms in 2019. Combined, these brands represent more than 65,000 open rooms in 44 countries and territories, including new hotels in Greece, Ireland, Jamaica, Latvia, Nepal and Switzerland. The company signed nearly 24,000 rooms across the AC by Marriott, Moxy and Aloft brands during the year – with record room signings for both AC by Marriott and Moxy.

Note on Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities laws, including the number of properties the company may add in the future, the company’s growth prospects in future years and similar statements concerning possible future events or expectations that are not historical facts. We caution you that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including changes in market conditions; changes in global and regional economies; supply and demand changes for hotel rooms; competitive conditions in the lodging industries; relationships with clients and property owners; the availability of capital to finance growth and refurbishment; and other risk factors that the company identifies in its most recent annual report on Form 10-K or quarterly report on Form 10-Q; any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations we express or imply here. We make these statements as of the date of this press release, and we assume no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 7,300 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 134 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy™, its highly-awarded travel program with 141 million members globally. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram.

NOTE: This article is almost entirely poached from a January 28, 2020 article in hotelnewsresource.com

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) announced that its centennial year featured record-breaking growth, awards for its inclusive workplace culture, and continued recognition of positive community impact.

“Throughout the last 100 years, Hilton has had a tremendous positive impact on billions of lives across the globe,” said Christopher J. Nassetta, president & chief executive officer, Hilton. “As we look toward the future, we will continue to prioritize sustainable and inclusive growth, enabling us to further strengthen the collective impact we have on the people and communities we serve.”

In 2019, Hilton achieved 6.6 percent net unit growth by adding nearly 470 hotels and reaching 6,110 properties globally with more than 971,000 rooms in 119 countries and territories. The company also grew its development pipeline to more than 387,000 rooms across 15 of its brands, supported by more than 116,000 rooms approved in 72 countries and territories. In addition, Hilton achieved a new construction start record of nearly 87,000 rooms.

“Hilton’s growth and performance are a testament to our resilient business model,” said Kevin Jacobs, chief financial officer, Hilton. “In addition to our record-breaking growth across approvals, construction starts and net units, we are delivering on our commitment to serve any guest, anywhere in the world, for any travel need.”

Record Growth: Effect on Economies

• Opened more luxury properties than in any previous year in its 100-year history, adding 11 hotels across Hilton’s luxury brands Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, LXR Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts
• Unveiled Signia by Hilton, a dynamic meetings-and-events-focused brand that will transform the industry for meeting professionals and sophisticated business travelers, located in top urban and resort destinations including Orlando, Atlanta and Indianapolis
• Expanded presence in Africa to more than 100 hotels trading or under development, including bringing two new brands to Africa with the Hampton by Hilton Sandton Grayson and the Canopy by Hilton Cape Town Longkloof
• Opened the Hampton by Hilton and grew the brand pipeline to the largest ever; Tru by Hilton also continued its rapid growth, reaching more than 115 open hotels since its 2016 launch
• LXR Hotels & Resorts debuted in Europe and the Americas with The Biltmore Mayfair, LXR Hotels & Resorts and Zemi Beach House Hotel & Spa – LXR Hotels & Resorts respectively; Motto by Hilton reached 10 hotels under development
• Homewood Suites by Hilton celebrated its property opening, first hotel in the Caribbean and 30^thanniversary of the brand; Home2 Suites by Hilton opened its property; Embassy Suites by Hilton marked its anniversary

Travel with Purpose: Effect on Communities

• Launched The Hilton Effect Foundation, dedicated to creating a better world to travel
• Named the global industry leader in sustainability on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI), the most prestigious ranking for corporate responsibility
• Recognized as the only hospitality company on Fortune’sChange the World list for the second year in a row
• Named to climate change “A-List” by the environmental impact nonprofit CDP
• Expanded decade-long soap recycling program, already the largest in the hospitality industry, to more than 5,300 properties in 70 countries and territories
• Exceeded Open Doors pledge to connect, prepare or employ one million young people by 2019
• Invested in local communities by contributing nearly 550,000 volunteering hours at nearly 10,500 events and expanding food donation initiative to all Hilton managed hotels in the U.S. and Canada

Customer Innovations: Effect on Guests

• Welcomed 178 million guests at its properties worldwide and the 100 millionth Hilton Honors member, growing the award-winning loyalty program by 21 percent to more than 103 million members at year-end
• Launched a first-of-its-kind travel and hospitality partnership with Lyft, allowing Hilton Honors members to earn and redeem Hilton Honors Points when they ride with Lyft
• Achieved record numbers of package redemptions through the Hilton Honors Experiences Platform, and hosted intimate music events via an expanded partnership with Live Nation, the world’s leading live entertainment company
• Partnered with iHeartRadio to allow guests to stream live radio stations, thousands of music playlists and podcasts directly from their TVs through Hilton’s high-tech Connected Room guest technology platform
• Became the first hospitality company to participate in research aboard the International Space Station, when the DoubleTree chocolate chip cookie became the first food baked in space inside a prototype oven as part of a landmark microgravity experiment

Employee Innovations: Effect on Team Members

• Named #4 Top 50 Company for Diversity by DiversityInc and received a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index for the seventh consecutive year
• Celebrated anniversary with more than 420,000 Team Members** and created more than 25,000 new jobs worldwide***
• Achieved five-year target of hiring 30,000 veterans, military spouses and caregivers, and expanded military-friendly commitment by pledging to make 25,000 additional hires by 2025, while also enhancing training and development opportunities

*Industry data from STR
** Corporate, owned, managed and franchised employees globally
***As a result of opening properties across Hilton’s portfolio