Today, the Spanish hotel group AC Hotels and Marriott International, Inc. formally announced their joint venture to manage and franchise a new lodging co-brand across Europe and Latin America – “AC Hotels by Marriott.”
At launch, over 90 existing AC Hotels in Spain, Italy and Portugal will be re-branded as AC Hotels by Marriott and enter into long term management or franchise agreements with the joint venture.
The 9,100-room AC Hotels by Marriott venture is a significant driver of Marriott’s European growth strategy. At launch, it will represent almost a quarter of the progress toward the company’s goal of doubling its portfolio in Europe over five years to 80,000 rooms.
The combination will provide Marriott’s customers access to a portfolio of Spain’s leading business and urban-leisure hotels, enable AC’s guests to earn Marriott Rewards points for travel at Marriott-branded hotels around the world, and provide both companies with a platform for future growth.
The partners anticipate that the venture will close in the first quarter of 2011, after receipt of necessary consents and other remaining conditions have been satisfied. Starting May 2011, they expect that all AC Hotels by Marriott hotels will be bookable on Marriott.com.
For more information, visit www.marriott.com.
