NEW DELHI: India will soon become the third largest market for Marriott International, the world's largest hospitality company, overtaking Mexico and trailing only the United States and China. David Marriott, chairman of the board, emphasized India's significance as the company inaugurated its landmark 10,000th property in Ranthambore.
Emotional Milestone
David Marriott shared the personal significance of the achievement. "My father, chairman emeritus J.W. Marriott Jr., is 94 and wanted to witness this milestone. After the inauguration, I called and told him it's done. In India, at a JW Marriott—a brand named after his father—he was thrilled. To top it off, this happened on the birth anniversary of my mother Donna Garff Marriott, who we lost last December. It was emotional for us both, from a company and personal perspective," he told TOI on Thursday.
Bullish on India's Growth
India's rising economic power and expanding middle class have fueled Marriott's optimism. "Almost 40% of people flying to India and other parts of Asia from the West do so via the Middle East, which has slowed inbound travel. However, local travelers are changing their destinations and staying within the country. They are not staying home but still traveling. Except for the Middle East, the impact has been manageable," David said.
Impact of Middle East Conflict
Rajeev Menon, Marriott's president for Asia Pacific excluding China, described the regional impact. "When the conflict started, we saw many cancellations as 42% of inbound travel to India comes from the Middle East. In March, we projected double-digit RevPAR growth in India, but it turned negative. Then travelers pivoted. In April, RevPAR growth moved from flat to marginally positive, and last month we returned to double-digit growth. This month looks similar, and forward bookings are strong," Menon stated.
Current and Future Presence
Marriott operates 6,000 hotels in the US, 700 in China, just under 300 in Mexico, and 220 in India. Given the pipeline, India will soon surpass Mexico. As outbound travel from India grows, hospitality majors are targeting Indian travelers abroad with tailored offerings like focused menus.
India's Hospitality Culture
"India has an incredible hospitality culture, one of the finest globally. We have taken many professionals from India to work abroad, and now with over 300 hotels here, they are returning to work in their home country," David said. Looking ahead, he added, "When the war ends, travel will bounce back stronger than before, just as it did post-pandemic."
