Marriott opens doors to first dual-branded property in India

American hospitality giant Marriott International on Wednesday debuted its first dual-branded property in the country, when it opened the Courtyard by Marriott and Fairfield by Marriott in Bengaluru.

The 336-key property, which is in joint venture with hospitality investor SAMHI, has seen an investment of around Rs 300 crore. The dual-branded hotel structure is specifically built, keeping in mind, different traveler needs. While the Courtyard brand boasts of efficient five-star service for business clientele, the Fairfield is an established leader in the moderate tier segment.

Marriott International President and Managing Director (Asia Pacific) Craig S Smith said, “The business community in South Asia, specifically in India, is growing at an unprecedented rate and this community is looking at lodging options that combine options, comfort and value To cater to this demand, Marriott International now offers this new property that delivers two different experiences under one roof.”

Dual-branded properties have several advantages. With one general manager, shared amenities and services, management and operational costs may come down. Also, with a single structure, construction costs may be less than that when building two separate properties, in different places.

Talking about Marriott’s plans in the dual-property space in India, Smith hinted, “We are keen on this model. Even in the US, we have 2-3 hotels together, as part of this model. As a company, we must look at all categories of guests, and want to play in all spaces.”