India to Become Marriott’s Third-Largest Market Globally: US and China Remain Ahead

New Delhi: Marriott International, the world’s largest hotel chain by room count, is poised to make India its third-largest market globally. Currently, Marriott has the most hotels in the United States, followed by China, Canada, and Mexico, with India climbing up the ranks rapidly.

India’s Rapid Expansion

Marriott operates 187 hotels in India with more than 33,000 rooms. According to Rajeev Menon, President of Marriott Asia Pacific, an additional 200 hotels are in the pipeline, which will solidify India as the chain’s third-largest market within the next 2–3 years. When it comes to total rooms, Marriott already leads India, though Taj Hotels (Tata Group) currently holds the top spot by hotel count with 255 properties. Menon projects that in five years, Marriott will have over 60,000 rooms in India, reflecting the country’s booming hospitality sector.

The Rise of Indian Travelers

A major shift in India’s hospitality landscape is the growing dominance of domestic travelers. In 2007–08, 70% of Marriott’s guests in India were foreigners. Today, 80% of guests are Indian nationals, signaling a transformation in travel patterns. Indian hospitality professionals are also gaining global recognition, similar to the trajectory of India’s IT sector. Menon stated, “When I arrived in India from Australia in 2002, it was difficult for Indians to reach senior management positions in major hotels. Most general managers were foreigners. That mindset has changed. We are now training Indian talent and placing them in key roles worldwide. Today, you will find Indian general managers and chefs across Marriott hotels globally.”

Influence of the Gujarati Diaspora

Marriott’s India strategy is partly inspired by the successful Indian-American hotel owners in the U.S., especially Gujaratis who migrated in the 1960s and 1970s. Many of them originally hailed from regions near Surat and are now investing in India by establishing hotels in emerging urban and highway locations. Menon emphasized that, unlike American motels, Marriott is focusing on urban resorts outside major cities, leveraging India’s rapidly expanding highway and airport infrastructure.

With this growth trajectory, India is set to become a cornerstone of Marriott’s global operations, reinforcing the country’s rising stature in the international hospitality landscape.