Marriott eyes MICE in India

The US chain Marriott International set its eyes on India in December 1999 with the opening of the Goa Marriott Resort and Spa. Thirteen years later, the brand is seeing a double-digit growth year-on-year basis in its business generated from India.

Future Plans for MICE Believing MICE is the way forward, the company aims to have over 100 MICE hotels by 2015. Elaborating on the expansion plans, Menon said, “Currently, we have 15 hotels operational in the Indian market and have another six hotels opening in the next six-seven months. We have also another 40 odd hotels under construction. The company will establish its brands in Chandigarh, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Pune, Goa, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Bhopal.

As a part of a broader move by international hotel brands in order to tap the country’s growing middle class, the chain is ready to introduce its Fairfield brand in India next year. “The group has formed a joint venture with Samhi Hotels to build a Fairfield by Marriott brand in India,” Menon reveals. This is the group’s only joint venture, otherwise it is purely a management company. The key challenge is getting the sites, getting the development and executing the hotels in time, he adds. The group will also unveil the Ritz Carlton brand in India next year.

Goa Marriott Resort & Spa offerings

Meetings space

The hotel has various meeting spaces for MICE events. Depending on the number of people expected and the arrangements to be made for that event, a suitable banquet space is offered. The maximum number of the people that can be accommodated indoors in its ballroom is around 400 and at in lawns is around 600.