Marriott plans to double Europe hotels by 2015

by Melanie Nayer on


Europe is fast becoming the growth spot for hotels. In an effort to increase its global presence, Marriott International announced plans to double its portfolio in Europe by 2015.

Marriott opened its first Europe hotel 35 years ago and today has over 170 hotels throughout Europe including Ritz-Carlton, Bvlgari, JW Marriott, Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Renaissance Hotels, Courtyard by Marriott and Marriott Executive Apartments. According to Marriott International, the development pipeline in Europe includes nearly 30 projects including the Renaissance Moscow Monarch Center Hotel (2010), the Courtyard by Marriott Budapest (2010) and the JW Marriott Hotel Ankara (2010). Marriott also plans to introduce two new brands to the Europe market including Edition, a boutique-lifestyle collaboration between Ian Schrager and Marriott; and the Autograph Collection, Marriott’s newest brand of independent hotels and resorts.

From the press release:

“Our new operating structure, comprised of four continental divisions including Europe, will help facilitate global growth and bring our teams closer to markets and to our customers. We have tremendous opportunities to grow, with over a third of our current pipeline and about half of our full-service openings this year located in markets outside North America,” said Arne Sorenson, president and chief operating officer of Marriott International.%Gallery-73514%

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Europe hotel rates down 12%

by Melanie Nayer on

Paris in the springtime? Beach time in Barcelona? These trips might not be as expensive as you think. According to a new report from hotel price comparison site trivago, Europe hotel prices are 12 percent less than in January 2009. Read: get your passports and hop across the pond!

Among the findings:

  • Dublin, Ireland: The average price of a standard double room is 84 pounds (approximately $136) in January 2010, 42 percent less than last year.
  • United Kingdom: Average hotel prices are 91 pounds (approximately $148), two percent less than the previous month.
  • Wales: The UK city offers the cheapest hotel rates at 78 pounds (approximately $127), followed by Northern Ireland (85 pounds) and Scotland (87 pounds).
  • Milan: The current price for a standard double room is 105 pounds (approximately $170), 15 percent less than last year.
  • Barcelona: Low hotel rates average around 81 pounds (approximately $132), 20 percent less than January 2009
  • Lisbon: Hotel rates are down 18 percent from last year, around 72 pounds (approximately $117) for a standard room.
  • Vienna: A standard room rate is around 89 pounds (approximately $145), 11 percent below the average room rate last year.