Marriott International plans to add 18 hotels in China, Hong Kong and Macau through 2012 with nine new ones to open in the mainland China starting as early as next year.

The new hotels will open between 2009 and 2012 in Nanjing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Huizhou, Suzhou and Beijing. It also said hotels under construction include properties in Shenzhen, Beijing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Macau and Hong Kong.

Ed Fuller, president and managing director of international lodging, added that deals to open hotels in addition to these have already been signed.

The 18 hotels will increase Marriott’s presence in China, Hong Kong and Macau to 59 hotels and extended-stay apartment buildings and 22,489 rooms.

He said it is possible Marriott will have as many as 100 hotels in the area in the next five or six years.

Henry Lee, area vice president for China said the company’s five hotels in Beijing are 90%-booked for August. Three additional hotels set to open before the Olympics are 40% booked.

The company’s brands include the Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance and Courtyard hotels. The illustrations both come from the Marriott in Guangzhou.
Source: CNN Money