Marriott makes a major move with 26 hotels in a key market | Official Website of Louis Velazquez, entrepreneur, finance guy and tech innovator

While the four largest hotel chains, including Wyndham, Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt, all recently disclosed U.S. RevPAR (revenue per available room) drop in the third quarter, they also revealed something important: the value of luxury offerings in times of economic uncertainty.

Even experts predicted such a scenario: the growth of international, corporate, and group travel, according to Niambi Business Strategies’ 2025 Global Hospitality Financial Report.

“This fundamental change in traveler archetype will likely benefit urban markets and higher-priced hotels, which traditionally cater more to these segments, potentially leading to their outperformance in 2025.”

Meanwhile, hotels are constantly upgrading their offerings, launching special holiday discounts, and expanding into new markets.

Marriott International (MAR) recently announced a major 25% off deal for loyal members as part of its Cyber Week Sale. This time, Marriott is offering the longest stay window in the sale’s history: from Nov. 30, 2025, through Feb. 22, 2026, with a 25% discount when booking through the Marriott Bonvoy app.

In addition, Hyatt confirmed on Nov. 13 that its Cyber Sale for World of Hyatt members has started, enabling members to book their next trip or give the gift of travel at a 30% discount.

Marriott’s third-quarter earnings revealed the importance of its luxury offering, and now the hotel giant is making another important move in the luxury direction: significant expansion in the key global market.

Marriott launches 26 hotels across major hot spots in India, adding 1,900 rooms to its portfolio.

saadhvi Mehra/Marriott International

Series by Marriott opens 26 hotels across India, adds 1,900 rooms to its portfolio

Marriott announced on Nov. 20 the global debut of Series by Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio of more than 30 hotel brands. The debut includes the launch of The Fern Hotels & Resorts, Series by Marriott across India, according to the press release.

The first phase includes the opening of 26 hotels across major hubs in India, adding more than 1,900 rooms to Marriott’s portfolio. The company marked this as a “significant milestone in the brand’s global expansion.”

Series by Marriott is a midscale and upscale collection brand that brings together locally recognized hotel groups under Marriott Bonvoy’s umbrella.

“We are delighted to introduce Series by Marriott in India through our strategic agreement with The Fern Hotels & Resorts,” said Kiran Andicot, senior vice president, South Asia, Marriott International.

“India’s vibrant domestic travel market and growing demand for dependable, affordable stays make it the ideal launchpad for this brand. Series by Marriott is about celebrating regional stories while delivering the consistency and care our guests expect from Marriott.”

Andicot highlighted that the 26 openings are just the beginning of a rollout, with more than 100 planned hotels in 2026.

The Fern Hotels & Resorts, Series by Marriott, is the brand’s inaugural set of properties to open globally, displaying a collection of eco-oriented hotels with a focus on sustainability.

What this means for Marriott’s guests in India

Guests staying at The Fern Hotels & Resorts, Series by Marriott, can enjoy the following hospitality services:

Grab n Go Breakfast: A packed breakfast box available on request for guests with early morning departures.
Single Lady Traveler Recognition: A curated selection of amenities focused on our single women guests, placed in their rooms prior to arrival.
Evening Delight: Turndown service with evening chocolates/local treats and a personalized goodnight message.
Lamp Lighting Ceremony: A tranquil dusk ritual that invites guests to unwind.
Healthy Sleep: Soaked almonds and raisins with cumin-infused water placed at the bedside every night, to promote a restful sleep.

“The response we’ve received for The Fern Hotels & Resorts, Series by Marriott has surpassed all expectations. It is heartening to see such alignment from our partner hotels. Between our commitment to sustainable hospitality, the industry’s growing appetite for development and Marriott’s strong distribution and systems, we look forward to rapidly expanding the Series footprint across the country,” said Managing Director for Concept Hospitality Suhail Kannampilly.

First phase of Marriott openings includes 26 hotels across important destinations

The first wave of openings under The Fern Hotels & Resorts, Series by Marriott, brings over 1,900 rooms across 26 properties in 23 cities, including:

The Fern Residency Ahmedabad, Subhash Bridge in Ahmedabad (69 rooms)
The Fern Residency Bengaluru, Seshadripuram in Bengaluru (79 rooms)
The Fern Residency Bhiwandi-Pimplas in Bhiwandi (79 rooms)
The Fern Residency Bodhgaya in Bodhgaya (63 rooms)
The Fern Seaside Luxurious Tent Resort Daman in Daman (31 rooms)
The Fern Samali Resort Dapoli in Dapoli (38 rooms)
The Fern Surya Resort Dharampur, Kasauli Hills in Dharampur (41 rooms)
The Fern Sardar Sarovar Resort Ekta Nagar in Ekta Nagar (169 rooms)
The Fern Residency Gandhinagar in Gandhinagar (75 rooms)
The Fern Heaven on The Hills Hatgad – Saputara in Hatgad (68 rooms)
The Fern Jaipur in Jaipur (85 rooms)
Bhanu The Fern Forest Resort & Spa Jambughoda in Jambughoda (91 rooms)
The Fern Residency Jamnagar in Jamnagar (49 rooms)
Debu’s The Fern Resort & Spa Jim Corbett in Jim Corbett (81 rooms)
The Fern Kochi in Kochi (92 rooms)
The Fern Kolhapur in Kolhapur (93 rooms)
The Fern Mumbai, Goregaon in Mumbai (94 rooms)
The Fern Residency Mumbai, Mira Road in Mumbai (70 rooms)
The Fern Brentwood Resort Mussoorie in Mussoorie (72 rooms)
Amanora The Fern Pune in Pune (48 rooms)
E-Square The Fern Pune in Pune (55 rooms)
The Fern Residency Pune, Woodland in Pune (87 rooms)
The Fern Residency Rajkot in Rajkot (69 rooms)
The Fern Residency Solapur in Solapur (54 rooms)
The Fern Vishranta Resort Kamrej-Surat in Surat (89 rooms)
The Fern Vadodara in Vadodara (72 rooms)

All properties under the Fern Hotels & Resorts, Series by Marriott, participate in Marriott’s loyalty program, Marriott Bonvoy.

India is an “absolute powerhouse” for Marriott

Earlier this year, Marriott announced an aggressive expansion across both luxury and mid-scale segments, aiming to run 500 hotels in the country by 2030.

Neeraj Govil, chief operating officer for the region, told Mint that India is “one of the most dynamic growth engines” post-Covid, and that it is an “absolute powerhouse” for the hotel chain.

In the first half of 2025, across Asia Pacific excluding China (APEC), Marriott recorded double-digit RevPAR growth, led by Japan, Vietnam, Australia, and India, while only Thailand lagged.

Govil further highlighted the importance of India’s luxury segment, explaining how it has developed post-pandemic.

“India has been pretty resilient. Business is coming back, and the remaining months of the year are looking very solid for us. In the upcoming quarter (October-December), corporate travel within the country as a segment is looking good and weddings remain strong,” Govil said.

Jaideep Dang, JLL India’s managing director for hotels and hospitality group said that the pipeline of 79 new hotel signings in India, suggests “investor confidence in India’s hospitality fundamentals. With JLL projecting $1 billion in investments by 2028, we are seeing a market shift that balances short-term performance gains with strategic long-term positioning across all tiers and segments. This growth follows $340 million in hotel transactions last year.”

Marriott’s strategic focus on India is based on luxury

In an interview with Hotel Talk from July 2025, Marriott’s APEC President Rajeev Menon said that India is “set to become Marriott’s third-largest market globally within the next 2-3 years.”

“By the end of next year, we expect to have nearly 250 operational hotels in the country. We are also on track to more than double our presence from 40 to 90 locations across India.”

Menon further stressed India’s “tremendous” luxury potential, and also the importance of its loyalty program for this project, explaining that Marriott Bonvoy already has close to 240 million members globally. In India alone, that number has reached over 7 million, as it continues to rise at a strong pace.

“As the economy continues to grow and India moves towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy, we are going to see more billionaires emerge from India than anywhere else globally. With that comes rising aspirations and an increasing demand for luxury experiences — including luxury hotels. We see significant opportunity in this space, driven by domestic travel, inbound international tourism, and Indian travellers exploring destinations abroad,” Menon concluded.