TORONTO — Three of the best-known hotel and resort brands in the world are looking ahead to 2023 with major growth plans in the pipeline.

Here’s a look at what Marriott International, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts achieved in 2022, plus a look ahead to 2023 …

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL

Marriott International, the largest hotel company in the world, signed an average of two property deals every single day in 2022. That made for a total of 726 management and franchise agreements last year, an increase of 21% over 2021 signings.

Half of the 2022 rooms signed were in international markets, including key growth markets for the company like Mexico and the Caribbean, as well as India and Saudi Arabia.

The upshot? Marriott International, with its massive global footprint and 30 brands, started 2023 with close to 8,300 properties and roughly 1.5 million rooms in 138 countries and territories worldwide.

“We were pleased with the accelerating pace of development activity in 2022 as the global recovery continued,” says Marriott International’s CEO Anthony Capuano. “The proven resilience of travel is powerful and energizing.”

Markets to watch for Marriott’s accelerated growth in 2023 and beyond include luxury accommodation – the Marriott portfolio now includes close to 500 luxury hotels, with a number of notable openings in 2022 including The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad. Other new luxury offerings from Marriott include W Costa Navarino in Greece, and The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hobart in Australia.

Marriott has also prioritized all-inclusive resort growth for several years now, and the company says it’s continuing to focus on expanding its all-inclusive platform to meet rising guest demand. In 2022, Marriott International added three all-inclusive conversion properties: Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun, an Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort in Mexico; Sanctuary Cap Cana, a Luxury Collection Adult All-Include Resort in the D.R.; and The Westin Porto de Galinhas, an All-Inclusive Resort in Brazil.

In addition, the company recently announced the signing of three luxury all-inclusive properties in Mexico: Almare, a Luxury Collection All-Inclusive Resort on Isla Mujeres, and a JW Marriott All-Inclusive and W All-Inclusive in Costa Mujeres. Today, the All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy portfolio includes 33 properties in the Caribbean and Latin America, located across Mexico – Riviera Nayarit & Cancun, Jamaica, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada and Brazil. Sunwing Travel Group announced it was joining forces with Marriott in 2021.

What’s next for Marriott in the all-inclusive market? The company says it’s looking to Southeast Asia and resort markets in Europe and the Middle East for future all-inclusive opportunities.

Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun

WYNDHAM HOTELS & RESORTS

Another major player active in the all-inclusive space is Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.

Known as the world’s largest hotel franchising company with some 9,100 hotels in 95+ countries, Wyndham significantly grew its all-inclusive presence, adding 14 new resorts to its luxury Registry Collection Hotels brand. Wyndham now has nearly 30 all-inclusive resorts across Latin America.

In 2022 Wyndham Hotels & Resorts and Palladium Hotel Group announced their commercial alliance that will more than 6,500 rooms to Wyndham’s Registry Collection. The 14 all-inclusive TRS Hotels and Grand Palladium Hotels & Resorts managed by Palladium Hotel Group are in Mexico, D.R., Jamaica, and Brazil.

Wyndham also has an alliance with Playa Hotels & Resorts that has given rise to a new brand name in sun destination all-inclusives: Wyndham Alltra.

Just like Marriott, for future growth Wyndham is also laser-focused on the luxury market. Last year Wyndham nearly doubled the size of its upscale footprint in Europe, the Middle East, Eurasia and Africa with the acquisition of the Vienna House brand from Berlin-based HR Group.

“Last year was an incredible year for the travel industry and for Wyndham,” says Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. “Amid the backdrop of the industry’s continued recovery, hoteliers across the world turned to Wyndham and our brands to help them elevate their portfolios and drive their businesses forward. Now, with consumer travel demand holding steadfast, anticipated tailwinds from continued infrastructure spend, and our iconic, trusted brands resonating with travellers like never before, Wyndham and its franchisees remain well positioned for success in 2023.”

Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa

FOUR SEASONS HOTELS AND RESORTS

One hotel company that has long dominated the luxury space – some would say defined it – is Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. With its new President and CEO, Alejandro Reynal, at the helm, Four Seasons has more than 50 new projects under planning or development, including in Italy, Spain, China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Colombia and Belize.

Noteworthy projects include management of Venice’s famed Hotel Danieli. Four Seasons took over management of the iconic Italian luxury hotel in 2022 and will reintroduce it as the Hotel Danieli, Venezia, a Four Seasons Hotel, in 2025.

The Four Seasons brand now includes 126 luxury hotels and resorts and 53 branded residences.

In 2022, Four Seasons opened seven new properties, including two new resort experiences in Mexico, Tamarindo, and the first tented resort in North America, Naviva, Punta Mita, A Four Seasons Resort.

Four Seasons has also expanded its portfolio for ultra-luxury travellers with the Four Seasons Private Jet Experience. Late last year, an all-new jet – designed with input from past guests – took flight, taking guests on bespoke journeys around the globe. This year’s itineraries are nearly sold out and a full calendar of 2024 journeys was just announced.

What else is new? Four Seasons Yachts. The first Four Seasons Yachts vessel is anticipated to embark in 2025, and will offer a 1:1 guest to staff ratio onboard 679-foot (207 metre) yachts.

Four Seasons Yachts