Marriott Inks Record 94 Deals in LatAm/Caribbean
Marriott International is continuing its aggressive expansion, reporting a record year of growth in the Caribbean and Latin America for 2025. The company signed 94 deals and added nearly 40 properties, signaling strong confidence in the region's hospitality market.
The 94 deals represent a significant pipeline expansion, adding 10,461 future rooms to Marriott's portfolio in the region, a 40% increase in transaction volume compared to 2024. The nearly 40 properties that opened their doors in 2025 contributed 4,292 operational rooms, bringing the company's total footprint to 555 hotels across 37 countries in the Caribbean and Latin America. A key driver of this growth is the company's conversion strategy, which accounted for nearly 30 of the signed deals and about 30% of the new rooms added to the pipeline. This approach allows for faster integration of existing hotel assets into the Marriott system, a strategy highlighted by Laurent de Kousemaeker, the Chief Development Officer for the region. The expansion is notably dual-pronged, targeting both the luxury all-inclusive and midscale markets. Luxury growth includes new Ritz-Carlton Reserves in Costa Rica and Mexico, while the pipeline features a Bvlgari Resort in the Bahamas. Simultaneously, the City Express by Marriott brand is spearheading a major midscale push, with 28 deals signed for over 3,100 rooms across seven new markets. Geographically, Brazil has been singled out as a strategic growth market, with 13 City Express deals signed, part of a long-term plan to add 30 properties in the country's northeast. This deepens Marriott's presence in South America's largest economy, adding significant operational and logistical scale far south of the traditional Caribbean basin. This broad regional footprint, spanning dozens of countries and island territories, presents a complex supply chain challenge. The Caribbean, in particular, is heavily reliant on imports for food and other goods, with inter-island freight constraints and weather disruptions posing constant risks to inventory management for large-scale hotel operations. The successful management of such a diverse and widespread portfolio hinges on sophisticated logistics. Large operators in the region often require centralized consolidation points, like those in Miami, to manage purchase orders and control the flow of FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment) and OS&E (Operating Supplies & Equipment) to numerous, often remote, properties.
