<div>Hospitality major Marriott International plans to further expand its footprint in the country with an additional 49 hotels, which will take the total operational properties to around 70 by 2018, a senior company executive said.</div><div> </div><div>"We are in India since last 15 years and currently have 25 operating hotels under our various brands. We have another 49 properties in pipeline that are under various stages of construction. Every year, we sign new contracts and are expecting 60-70 operating hotels in India by 2017-2018," Marriott International Area Vice President for South Asia Rajeev Menon said.</div><div> </div><div>Marriott International, which primarily follows the management contract model, has seven operating brands in India representing luxury to upper mid scale category.</div><div> </div><div>"These seven brands fairly fulfils the necessity in the country. However, we will continue to access opportunity in India to launch additional brands here," he added.</div><div> </div><div>In India, Marriott International currently operates brands like JW Marriott, Courtyard by Marriott, Marriott Hotels, Fairfield by Marriott, Marriott Executive Apartments, Renaissance Hotels and The Ritz Carlton.</div><div> </div><div>The hospitality major, which currently employs about 6,500 in India is also planning to hire 10,000 more for all levels by 2018, Menon said.</div><div> </div><div>"We have the largest pipeline in the industry and with this expansion we will also need more manpower. We are looking at hiring about an additional 10,000 workforce by 2018," he added.</div><div> </div><div>Of the seven brands, Courtyard by Marriott and Fairfield have huge potential in the country as they can expand anywhere, especially in Tier II and III cities.</div><div> </div><div>"We see opportunity for our two brands - Courtyard by Marriott and Fairfield - to grow aggressively in the country.</div><div> </div><div>They have locational advantage as they can be opened anywhere like tier II and III cities," he pointed out.</div><div> </div><div>At present, there are 11 properties under the Courtyard by Marriott brand and another 19 are under construction.</div><div> </div><div>(PTI)</div>
