Marriott International Signs 94 Deals in CALA in 2025
Marriott International announced an outstanding year of growth in its Caribbean and Latin America, or CALA, region in 2025. The company achieved a record 94 signed deals in the region, adding 10,461 rooms to the pipeline, an increase of 40 percent in signed transactions and more than 30 percent in signed rooms compared to 2024. This performance reinforces Marriott's long-term commitment to diversified expansion and meeting evolving owner interests in the CALA region. In 2025, Marriott expanded its portfolio with 39 properties and 4,292 rooms, growing its regional footprint to 555 open properties and more than 95,000 rooms across 37 countries and territories by year end. Conversions were a key driver of Marriott's signings growth across CALA in 2025, with nearly 30 properties and 3,000 rooms signed under this model. Approximately 30 percent of the rooms signed in 2025 are attributed to conversions, underscoring the agility of Marriott's brand portfolio and its ability to unlock value by providing owners with an efficient option to renovate and rebrand existing assets. At year-end 2025, the CALA development pipeline included 45 conversion projects representing more than 6,000 rooms. At year end, Marriott's luxury footprint in the region included 71 open properties and 38 pipeline hotels, representing more than 18,000 rooms across CALA. Marriott continued to elevate its luxury portfolio responding to luxury travelers' interest in escaping to some of the world's most remarkable and remote destinations. In 2025, the company celebrated the opening of Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Costa Rica, and Siari, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Mexico. In 2025, Ritz-Carlton Reserve also broke ground in Southern Eleuthera, The Bahamas, with Cotton Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve and Residences, anticipated to open in 2029, while Bvlgari Hotels and Resorts announced the upcoming arrival of the brand in CALA with Bvlgari Resort & Residences, Cave, Exuma in The Bahamas, also planned to open in 2029. The company's all-inclusive portfolio also flourished in CALA, highlighted by the opening of Paraiso de la Bonita, a Luxury Collection Resort, Riviera Maya, Adult All-Inclusive and W Punta Cana, Adult All-Inclusive, the world's first all-inclusive W Hotel, which combines the brand's vibrant design with elevated service and story-worthy experiences. Simultaneously, the company's midscale segment experienced growth in 2025, led by the expansion of the City Express by Marriott brand. The company signed 28 City Express by Marriott deals across CALA for 3,188 rooms, several of which mark the brand's planned expansion into seven countries and territories: Argentina, Brazil, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guyana, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Looking ahead to 2026, the company anticipates the opening of 6 City Express by Marriott properties, including market entries into Argentina, Nicaragua, and El Salvador.
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- Joint Venture Announcement: Marriott International and the Leali family have announced a joint venture aimed at developing new hotel projects, which is expected to enhance their competitive positioning in the market.
- Market Expansion: This collaboration will enable Marriott to further expand its market share in specific regions, particularly leveraging the properties and resources owned by the Leali family.
- Resource Integration: By combining the Leali family's local expertise with Marriott's global brand influence, both parties will enhance customer experience and optimize operational efficiency.
- Strategic Implications: This joint venture not only supports Marriott's ongoing growth in the industry but also potentially paves the way for future expansion and investment opportunities.
- Joint Venture Formation: Marriott International and the Leali family have announced a joint venture to incorporate the luxury wellness brand Lefay into Marriott's portfolio, marking a significant expansion in Marriott's luxury market presence.
- Brand Complementarity: Lefay will be the first brand in Marriott's luxury group focused on health and longevity, aiming to attract a rapidly growing global audience seeking transformative travel experiences, thus addressing increasing market demand.
- Intellectual Property Contribution: Lefay will contribute its existing brand and intellectual property assets to the joint venture, while the Italian real estate assets will remain under the control of the founders, ensuring the brand's independence and value.
- Market Positioning: By introducing Lefay, Marriott not only enriches its luxury product line but also strengthens its competitive position in the global wellness tourism market, responding to consumer interest in health and sustainable travel.
- Strategic Partnership: Marriott International and the Leali family have announced a joint venture to incorporate the luxury wellness brand Lefay into Marriott's portfolio, combining Lefay's holistic wellness approach with Marriott's global scale, which is expected to enhance Marriott's competitiveness in the luxury wellness market.
- Brand Expansion: Lefay will become Marriott's first brand dedicated exclusively to luxury wellness, with two existing Italian resorts and three new projects under development operating through long-term hotel management agreements, further driving global brand expansion.
- Market Positioning: Lefay's eco-resorts emphasize harmony with the natural environment and offer diverse wellness programs, catering to the growing global demand for health and longevity, which is expected to attract more consumers seeking health-focused travel experiences.
- Brand Value: This collaboration not only preserves Lefay's Italian heritage and unique identity but also supports its long-term growth through Marriott's development capabilities, further solidifying Lefay's leading position in the luxury wellness hospitality sector.
- Luxury Wellness Brand Partnership: Marriott International and the Leali family, founders of Lefay, have announced a joint venture to incorporate the Lefay brand into Marriott's portfolio, marking Marriott's first focus on luxury wellness, which is expected to attract a global clientele seeking health and luxury experiences.
- Global Expansion Plans: Lefay currently operates two award-winning resorts in Italy and is developing three new properties in Tuscany, Southern Italy, and the Swiss Alps; the joint venture will leverage Marriott's robust development capabilities to drive global brand expansion and enhance market competitiveness.
- Brand Philosophy Integration: Known for its unique Lefay SPA Method and sustainability ethos, Lefay's collaboration with Marriott will merge its holistic wellness approach with Marriott's global scale, facilitating a transformation in luxury experiences to meet evolving customer expectations.
- Long-term Development Vision: The partnership between Marriott and the Leali family aims to preserve Lefay's distinct identity and Italian heritage while supporting its long-term growth through carefully selected destinations, further solidifying Lefay's leadership position in the luxury wellness hospitality sector.
- Booking Trends Decline: According to Hotel Dive, early booking trends for the World Cup indicate that some host cities are experiencing single-digit bookings, reflecting a cautious outlook on match-related demand that could negatively impact overall hotel revenue.
- Weak RevPAR Projections: An analysis by OysterLink suggests that U.S. RevPAR is expected to rise only slightly during the tournament, which is disappointing for hotel operators who had high hopes for a summer surge in bookings.
- Strategy Adjustments: Many properties in host markets have filled only a small share of FIFA room blocks, prompting operators to abandon an event-only strategy and reopen inventory to regular corporate and leisure travelers to avoid unused rooms.
- Flexible Pricing Strategies: Hotel operators are adjusting by embracing more dynamic pricing, loosening length-of-stay restrictions, and maintaining broad distribution, indicating a shift in treating the World Cup as a high-demand summer period rather than a once-in-a-lifetime windfall.
- Buyback Announcement: Marwest announced its intention to initiate a Normal Course Issuer Bid, potentially repurchasing up to 700,025 trust units, approximately 10% of the public float, between April 1, 2026, and March 31, 2027, aimed at enhancing unit value and boosting investor confidence.
- Clear Funding Source: The buyback program will be executed through National Bank Capital Markets, with funding sourced from the REIT's working capital, ensuring financial feasibility while reflecting the company's confidence in future cash flows.
- Unit Cancellation Mechanism: All repurchased units will be cancelled after being returned to treasury, which will reduce the number of units in circulation, potentially increasing earnings per share for remaining units and enhancing long-term shareholder value.
- Regulatory Approval Pending: The plan is subject to approval from the TSX Venture Exchange, and if approved, it will provide additional return opportunities for investors, demonstrating the company's proactive approach to capital management.









