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Marriott announced a milestone this week when it surpassed 100 signed agreements for City Express by Marriott hotels across the United States and Canada. There are currently six properties open with four more expected by year’s end. The hotelier’s growing midscale portfolio continues to gain momentum amid strong demand from value-focused travelers and owners.
In August 2023, I wrote about Marriott completing the acquisition of City Express. City Express by Marriott began in the Caribbean and Latin America and has rapidly expanded its global footprint. Marriott recently revealed plans to bring the brand to the Asia Pacific (excluding China), starting with two properties in Osaka, Japan. The first location in the US opened in Duluth, GA in March.
The brand caters to budget-conscious guests seeking modern accommodations, free breakfast, high-speed Wi-Fi, and practical amenities. Its conversion-friendly model also provides owners with faster entry into Marriott’s brand ecosystem and the Marriott Bonvoy® loyalty program. While it’s part of Marriott Bonvoy®, the biggest drawback of this brand might be its earnings and benefits. Like all other properties, guests will have the ability to earn and redeem miles. City Express by Marriott hotels will earn 5x points per $1 spent, but one night towards elite status for every two stayed. This is essentially half of what members earn at other Marriott brands and an unfortunate way to disincentivize guests.
Marriott is targeting well-located, highly connected markets across North America to build out the brand’s regional presence. Among the newest signings are:
- City Express by Marriott Kissimmee (Florida): A 197-room hotel near Orlando’s major attractions.
- City Express by Marriott Dulles (Virginia): A 90-room property close to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and within reach of Washington, DC.
- City Express by Marriott Amarillo (Texas): Serving the Texas Panhandle, this 73-room hotel will accommodate road-trippers and regional travelers.
- City Express by Marriott Sandusky (Ohio): Featuring 50 guestrooms near Lake Erie. It’s close to amusement parks, wildlife areas, and family-friendly attractions.
- City Express by Marriott Carson City (Nevada): An 86-room hotel offering access to the state capital’s business hubs and outdoor recreation.
Noah Silverman, Global Development Officer, US and Canada at Marriott, said:
City Express by Marriott continues to demonstrate incredible momentum in the U.S. and Canada, with this milestone occurring just over a year after we introduced the midscale brand to the region. Reaching 100 signings for City Express by Marriott reflects the strong appetite for midscale in the market, and we’re thrilled to offer owners a new opportunity to join the Marriott Bonvoy® ecosystem while providing guests with more ways to travel with us.”
Anthony’s Take: With its rapidly expanding pipeline, City Express by Marriott is set to become a significant driver of the company’s midscale growth strategy across the Americas and beyond. I likely will not be staying at one of these hotels solely based upon the punitive earnings.
(Image Credits: Marriott.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
