Hicran
January 19, 2010

Marriott International’s strategy for India includes a heavy emphasis on the Courtyard by Marriott brand, according to the company.

Courtyard, Marriott’s “upper moderate” product, is critical to Marriott’s growth in India, said Rajeev Menon, Marriott’s area VP for India, Pakistan, Maldives & Malaysia.

Four Courtyards recently opened in India: The 164-room Courtyard by Marriott Hyderabad; the like-sized Courtyard by Marriott Ahmedabad in Gujarat; and the 199-room Courtyard by Marriott Gurgaon each opened in November. The Gurgaon property is Marriott’s first foray into the National Capital Region of Delhi.

The 299-room Courtyard by Marriott Mumbai International Airport opened a month later. Mumbai, the nation’s economic heart, features the highest concentration of Marriott product. It is Marriott’s Indian analog to Washington, D.C.

“Due to the global economy shift, upper moderate products are becoming increasingly popular in India,” Menon said via e-mail. “We currently have four Courtyards in India with 12 more in the pipeline.”

These hotels suit primary and secondary markets and “provide full service, offer meeting spaces and all the other amenities at a lower price,” Menon said. They also differ greatly from their select-service U.S. parent, which doesn’t feature restaurants like the MoMo Café, a full-service eatery featuring Western and Indian cuisine.