Marriott expands in Thailand with 3 hotels

Marriott International will further strengthen its portfolio of hotels in Thailand with the opening of three new properties this year. The Rayong Marriott Resort & Spa, The Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit and the Marriott Executive Apartments Bangkok - Sukhumvit Thonglor will all open in 2012, bringing Marriott International’s portfolio to 16 hotels in the country. Marriott International currently operates a portfolio of hotels and brands in the country including JW Marriott hotels in Bangkok, Phuket and Khao Lak, the Renaissance-branded hotels in Bangkok, Phuket and Koh Samui, and the retreat, Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Krabi, among others. “We are delighted to be expanding our footprint in Thailand and bringing these three wonderful new hotels to the country,” explained Craig Smith, chief operating officer, Marriott International, Asia. “We have had a long relationship with Thailand having opened our first hotel here, the JW Marriott Bangkok, some 15 years ago. It is great to be able to bring these new hotels to Thailand, which we feel will have a very positive impact on both domestic and international travellers to the country. We are totally committed to Thailand for the long term, and in addition to these three hotels, we will continue to grow in Thailand with a further five hotels set to open in the next three to four years.” Rising over Bangkok’s premier lifestyle district of Thonglor, the Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit will offer 296 guest rooms and suites, three restaurants, bars and lounges, four meeting rooms and a Grand Ballroom. The iconic building offers sweeping views of the city and will also host a rooftop bar and restaurant. Located on the popular Mae Phim beach in the resort area of Rayong – just 205 kilometers south of Bangkok – the 206-room Rayong Marriott Resort & Spa will be located on a stretch of coastline offering aspects of both picturesque mountains and ocean views. The hotel will feature a Grand Ballroom along with five additional meeting rooms with extensive outdoor group space overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. Offering a total of 7,120 square meters of total meetings space, the hotel is fitted with LCD projection and state-of-the-art technology for MICE events. Marriott Executive Apartments Bangkok - Sukhumvit Thonglor, which will be located in the same building as the Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit, will offer the conveniences of a full service 5-star hotel with the space, ambience and privacy of residential living. Marriott Executive Apartments are furnished with a fully equipped kitchen and are appropriate for any length of stay. Located in the heart of Bangkok's upscale residential district, the Marriott Executive Apartments Bangkok - Sukhumvit Thonglor will offer 74 units comprising one two and three-bed room apartments. “We are delighted to be expanding the number of hotels we offer in Thailand and to be showcasing a new Marriott Executive Apartment in the city, as well as bringing our internationally branded hotels to the beautiful beachside area of Rayong,” explained Philip Bryson, area vice president South-East Asia for Marriott International. “These hotels will appeal to business and leisure travellers from across Thailand and internationally and feature world-class service and facilities in locations where we have not previously been able to offer our hotels. It is great to be able to announce such strong growth in Thailand and to be able to bring a new level of hotel to Rayong, which we believe will really help to put the destination on the international map.”