Marriott plans to open at least 11 new hotels in Turkey in next three years

Güneş Kömürcüler - ISTANBUL

Marriott International plans to open more than 11 hotels in Turkey in the next three years as it sees the country as a key market, top company representatives announced on Oct. 17.

John Licence, vice president of premium and select brands at Marriott’s Europe division, said the group has 26 hotels in Turkey under 13 brands now during a press meeting in Istanbul.

“We will open at least 11 new hotels in Turkey in the next three years. This shows our interest to grow and expand in the Turkish market and in Europe,” he said, adding that two other deals were also signed for the group’s Delta and Autograph brands.

More will follow in the upcoming period, he added.

Marriott bought Starwood last year, making it the world’s largest hotel chain. The U.S.-based group has more than 6,200 properties in 125 countries and territories, according to data from the company website.

Licence also noted that a Four Points by Sheraton hotel was recently opened in the Aegean resort of İzmir in partnership with Turkey’s Er Yatırım and the hotel reached high occupancy rates in a very short time.

Er Yatırım owns the franchising rights of the group’s Four Points by Sheraton and plans to open 20 new hotels mainly in Istanbul in the next 10 years for a $300 million investment, company CEO Ferzan Çelikkanat said at the press meeting.

This brand targets business travelers and small conventions.

“We have selected the inner-city business concept to grow in hotel business,” Çelikkanat said, voicing that they are pleased to partner with Marriot International in this key area.

The group invested $20 million for Four Points by Sheraton İzmir, adding that new projects would be made in Istanbul’s Kağıthane and Gebze in 2018 and in the Kartal and Ataşehir district of Istanbul in 2019.

“Through our planned $300 million investments, we will create 1,000 new jobs,” Çelikkanat added.