Marriott may manage four hotels for Emaar MGF in India

Mumbai: Marriott International says it expects to manage four properties in India for Emaar MGF beginning in 2009 as a result of the signing today of memorandums of understanding that could potentially lead to the opening of two JW Marriott-branded luxury hotels in New Delhi and Hyderabad.

Marriott International currently operates six hotels in India; another 19 are expected to open now through 2011, including the potential hotels announced today.

Marriott will manage for Emaar MGF-a 250-room luxury JW Marriott-branded hotel in Kolkata, scheduled for 2011 and a 114-room upper-moderately-priced Courtyard by Marriott-branded property in Amritsar that will open in 2009. When developed, the Kolkat and Amritsar properties will join two previously announced properties.

Courtyard by Marriott hotels ranks as hospitality group's largest brand and the 13th largest lodging brand in the world. The brand was first introduced in 1983 and was designed for business and leisure travelers and Courtyard guest rooms are usually larger than those offered by other hotels in its customer segment.  The group operates nearly 800 Courtyard by Marriott hotels worldwide. "We are delighted by the strengthening of our relationship with Emaar MGF," said Ed Fuller, president & managing director of international lodging for Marriott International. "Emaar MGF has the vision, the vitality and sense of the market that enables it to develop outstanding hotels that appeal to a variety of current and emerging customer segments.

We at Marriott International, meanwhile, have the broadest portfolio of lodging brands, all of which enjoy high customer preference and acceptance. We look forward to working with Emaar MGF to help bring both these two new JW Marriott-branded hotels to fruition."Marriott's luxury JW Marriott brand is a global collection of the most distinctive and elegant hotels that bear the Marriott name and offer dramatic architectural and interior features, spacious guest rooms and a selection of restaurants and lounges.