One of my favorite hotels to stay when I visit the City is the Courtyard Marriott at the Multiplaza Mall.  This brand is one of many successful business models located all over Latin America.

Marriott is aiming to double its hotel portfolio across Latin America and the Caribbean by 2017, with president Arne Sorenson describing Latin America as being at the forefront of “a golden age of travel”.

New openings this year include a Courtyard by Marriott property at Mexico City airport, and a JW Marriott hotel in the Unesco World Heritage site of Cusco.

There are currently 35 Marriott hotels under development across Latin America and the Caribbean, including Ritz-Carlton properties in Aruba and Panama, and a Renaissance hotel in the Chilean capital Santiago.

These and other new signings are expected to help take the Marriott portfolio in the region from the current 69 properties, up to over 140 by 2017.

Announcing the plans Marriott’s president and CEO Arne Sorenson said:

“Latin America is booming, in terms of economic growth and political and institutional stability, which is creating a promising business climate.

“The rising middle class throughout the region is eager to travel to new places and do business on the road. Worldwide, we’re seeing a golden age of travel, and Latin America is at the forefront. “

In 2010 Marriott announced plans to double its European room portfolio by 2015 (see online news March 16, 2010).

These plans were boosted by a joint venture agreement with AC Hotels, to rebrand 90 hotels across Spain, Italy and Portugal under the AC by Marriott offering (see November 11, 2010).

At the time the group said that the agreement would see the two companies focusing on “becoming a market leader in Europe and Latin America in the urban, four-star hotel category”.