Marriott International, which entered the all-inclusive hotel space in 2019, is poised to lead and take advantage of the transformation of the model that in a relatively short time has shifted from budget resorts with a dinner theater component to a luxury offering, executives said.
Launching its all-inclusive platform in August 2019 with the signing of five resorts in Latin America and the Caribbean, Marriott has since grown that portfolio to 37 hotels open and in the pipeline, totaling 12,234 rooms.
That growth so far has come largely through acquisition and partnership — including the October 2019 purchase of Elegant Resorts that added seven hotels; and a February 2021 mutual agreement with Sunwing Travel Group, which added 19 hotels under the Blue Diamond Resorts banner.
However, Marriott is determined to grow its all-inclusive platform using its existing brands — and sees potential for the model in all 30 of those brands, according to Craig Smith, group president, international.
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