Washington, DC -- Marriott International plans to increase its guest room count nearly 20 percent worldwide over the next three years, by up to 100,000 rooms.
The company, in a statement Thursday, said it expects its worldwide system of hotels across all its brands to encompass nearly 600,000 rooms by the end of 2009.
Marriott anticipated an even faster growth rate outside North America, more than 30 percent, to approximately 120,000 rooms by year-end 2009. Up to 60 percent of additions to the company's full-service brands are expected from openings outside the United States and Canada.
Within North America, the company plans to add up to 69,000 rooms through 2009, driven mainly by conversions and new-build limited-service hotels.
Global economic expansion is creating opportunities for hotel companies with international reach such as Marriott, according to company chairman and chief executive J.W. Marriott Jr.
He claimed that Marriott service-oriented corporate culture will give the company a competitive edge.
"Service is who we are and what we're about," said Marriott, "and being tops in service in a growing, global service economy is an exciting place to be."
Marriott mainly manages or franchises hotels carrying its brand names, leaving hotel ownership to others. Marriott International's brands are Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites. Marriott owns the luxury Bulgari Hotels brand with the design house of the same name. More than 2,800 lodging properties in 68 countries and territories fly the flags of Marriott International's brands.