The hospitality industry appears to go scot-free despite the global economic downturn. The industry has been witnessing expansion, especially the five-star hotels. “Despite these troubled times, our worldwide development pipeline remains strong, positioning us well for the eventual economic upturn,” J.W. Marriott Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Marriott International, Inc. said recently in London during a whirlwind three-day visit to several new hotels in the United Kingdom. He announced global expansion plans for the company and said “with 60 percent of our pipeline already under construction or conversion, we remain optimistic about our long-term future.” “The long-term future is bright,” Marriott noted, saying that “we're adding to the portfolio and everyone is focused on providing excellent service.” Global expansion plans include, among others, Marriott's global pipeline exceeding 770 hotels totaling more than 115,000 rooms; the designation of Grosvenor House, a JW Marriott Hotel as the company's flagship for the JW Marriott Hotel brand in Europe; the European launch of Residence Inn by Marriott brand with a new Munich property scheduled to open in 2011-the brand targets extended stay guests; the UK grand openings of Marriott's “new look” Courtyard by Marriott at Gatwick Airport and the Twickenham Marriott, home of English rugby; construction of a 116-room Lingfield Park Marriott & Country Club, scheduled to open in 2010; and the 245-room London St. Pancras, a Renaissance Hotel scheduled for completion in late 2010. On the planned opening of the first Residence Inn in Munich in 2011, J.W. Marriott Jr. said “over the past two years, we conducted a lot of consumer and market research that points to tremendous potential in Europe for this dynamic brand. Residence Inn offers stylishly appointed apartments with full kitchens and the comforts of a modern home coupled with an intuitive staff that assists their guests who are away from home for long periods of time.” He added that Marriott expects to open over 30,000 rooms this year alone and to generate about 30,000 new jobs across the world over the next four years. “That's a lot of global opportunity for customer-focused associates who want to build their careers in the hospitality industry.”
