JW Marriott Nara marks Marriott International's 800th opening in APAC. Events planners can pick from 640sqm of meetings space blessed with natural lighting, and enjoy the stunning 1,300-year-old garden for leisurely meets. Photo Credit: JW Marriott Nara
NARA – JW Marriott Nara opened its doors on 22 July, making it not
only a brand first in Japan, but also the 800th property to debut in
Asia Pacific by Marriott International — signalling the hotel’s
continued strength in the region.
When M&C Asia spoke to Marriott International in March, the brand
was already operating more than 780 properties in the APAC region, and
has on average, added close to 80 hotels annually in the past three
years. Also, in the first half of 2020, Marriott had inked 73 signings,
including 43 in the Greater China region.
“We remain confident in the resilience of travel, our owners and
franchisees, guests and associates as well as the future prospects of
lodging in Asia Pacific, our second largest market, ” said Craig S.
Smith, Group President, Asia Pacific for Marriott International.
Additionally, Rajeev Menon, president, Asia Pacific excluding China
called Southeast Asia “one of the fastest-growing regions,” and
identified key markets to be Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and The
Philippines.
In Japan, following JW Marriott Nara’s launch, event planners can
expect the debut of the EDITION and Aloft brands by end 2020 –
signalling a continued, strong relationship with the owner and
franchisee community, despite today’s troubled times.
“Our owners and franchisees trust and choose Marriott International
because of our overall reputation for product quality, our powerful and
differentiated portfolio of brands, our Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program
with more than 142 million global members, and our proven track record
of operational excellence,” said Paul Foskey, Chief Development Officer,
Marriott International, Asia Pacific.
Events planners will favour JW Marriott Nara’s address on former
royal palace grounds, flanked by a 1,300-year-old garden. Offering
158-keys, the luxury hotel offers 640sqm of meetings space, spread
across five event rooms blessed with natural lighting. The largest space
accommodates up to 380 delegates, who can opt for the brand’s JW
Wellness Break during sessions, relaxing via mindfulness exercises.