Marriott International to open four new hotels in Oman

Muscat: Marriott International is planning to open four hotels in Oman in the next five years, a senior official from Marriott International said on Thursday.
Marriott International currently operates three properties in the Sultanate, with more than 700 rooms. These are the newly opened Sheraton Oman Hotel, the Al Bustan Palace—a Ritz Carlton Hotel and the Salalah Marriott Resort in Salalah. During the next five years, it plans to double its portfolio in the country with four properties and 1,095 rooms in the pipeline.
These will be the Aloft Muscat with 175 rooms, the W Hotel Muscat with 250 rooms, Westin Muscat with 350 rooms and the JW Marriott Muscat Convention Centre with 320 rooms.
Alex Kyriakidis, president and managing director, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International, said: “Marriott International remains committed to setting new hospitality benchmarks in Oman and being a part of the country’s development. With a strong presence in the Sultanate across three hotels, we are also on track to double our portfolio in the country with four new properties and over 1,000 rooms set to open in the next five years.”
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Kyriakidis further said he is proud to be in Oman. “Tourism is one of the key five sectors identified in the Sultanate’s Vision 2020 to encourage economic growth, expand the services sector and build up the private sector. More than ever before, Oman is eager to welcome international investors and the broader global community,” he said.
He added that Oman’s tourism industry has grown steadily over the past five years, with inbound tourism averaging an increase of 9 per cent per year since 2010, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). “Last year, Oman received a record 2.6 million tourists, government figures showed.”
The renovation of the Sheraton Oman reflects the brand’s approach to an elevated and customised design and further reinforces Sheraton as a trusted voice in global travel, Kyriakidis noted.
“Our expanding presence here is emblematic of this trend. And Marriott International will continue to play a supporting role in achieving the Sultanate’s longer term goals,” he added.
Last week, Maitha Al Mahrouqi, the undersecretary of Ministry of Tourism, said Oman is looking at a minimum annual growth of 8 to 12 per cent in tourism.
“The biggest airport will open; the convention centre was opened recently and we hosted the first exhibition. Then there are a few five-star hotels, which are in the pipeline and will also open next year,” she said.