Marriott International, Inc. has announced the company is set to open nearly 40 luxury hotels in 2018 as the company continues to cater to a new affluent traveler, offering an unmatched variety of transformative travel experiences.

Providing globetrotters with a truly global perspective and an unparalleled portfolio of eight distinct luxury brands, Marriott International Luxury Brands include world-renowned hospitality hallmarks The Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, St. Regis, W Hotels, The Luxury Collection, EDITION and JW Marriott.

"From former palaces in Venice and Vienna, to skyscrapers in Hong Kong and Dubai, to intimate, remote escapes in the Maldives and Mexico, the breadth of our portfolio is incomparable and allows us to surpass the expectations of our guests around the globe," said Tina Edmundson, Global Brand Officer, Marriott International.

"We see luxury as a launch pad for self-actualization, with bucket lists evolving from where you want to go to who you can be. With data showing a global shift in perception around luxury, we are uniquely positioned to provide personalized and truly differentiated experiences that resonate with this next-generation jetsetter."

Inspired by its legendary namesake, JW Marriott is a brand committed to cultivating enriching experiences for guests seeking approachable, modern luxury. With 79 hotels and resorts today in nearly 30 countries, including the recent openings of JW Marriott properties in Vancouver, Jaipur and Phu Quoc, an island oasis off the coast of Vietnam, the brand is looking forward to yet another milestone year with openings slated for 2018 in Nashville and the Maldives.

The Ritz-Carlton, the legendary hospitality brand with 94 hotels in 31 countries, will continue to set the standard in luxury in 2018.Known for creating exceptional experiences, the brand recently celebrated the opening of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel de La Paix, Geneva and in 2018 is slated to debut six exciting locations, including Chinas scenic Jiuzhaigou Valley.

2018 will also see renovations of key properties including The Ritz-Carlton, Berlin and The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul. With three Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties open, the debut of Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Los Cabos, will further define the brands ability to create an intimate, culturally immersive experience that is set apart by heartfelt care and human connection.

"Todays global luxurian defies traditional stereotypes, moving far beyond the antiquated notion of time being the ultimate luxury. Our guests are on a journey towards personal fulfilment, seeking meaningful and purposeful travel experiences that speak to their inner, idealized selves." Edmundson continued.

"Whether that be creating a signature dish at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Caymans Culinary Studio, prioritizing wellness by tapping into on-demand fitness with JW Marriotts Behind the Barre program, recharging in an over-water villa at The St. Regis Maldives or exploring one of the worlds most energetic cities through a W Insider."

With a new lens on luxury and focus on the fast-evolving expectations and aspirations of the global traveler, Marriott International elevates travel with highly contextualized, nuanced brand experiences that signal the future of luxury.

Across its luxury brands, W Hotels will see half of its U.S. properties finish significant renovations; and its return to Australia with a hotel in Brisbane, with locations in Sydney and Melbourne in the pipeline. Among the 10 new Ws that will welcome guests next year are: Tel Aviv, Dubai on the Palm, Panama, Costa Rica and Xian.

EDITION will see hyper-growth moving from four to 11 hotels, including properties in: Shanghai, Bangkok, Abu Dhabi, Barcelona, Bodrum, West Hollywood, and Times Square in New York. Bulgari will plant its flag in Dubai next year, as well.

"Access is the new authentic, and our brands are portals to diverse cultures and one-off travel moments," said Edmundson.

The Luxury Collection will see 12 new hotels open next year, including six in Europe. The Langley is a 41-room conversion of a former estate just a 40-minute drive from Central London; it will feature a 25,000-square-foot spa. Other openings include a boutique hotel in Paris, plus in Tasmania, Los Cabos, and Savannah, Ga.

JW Marriott will also continue to reinforce and revitalize its global portfolio with multi-million dollar renovations in more than half of its properties, including JW Marriott Bangkok and Grosvenor House, a JW Marriott Hotel.

Marriott International, Inc. is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 6,400 properties in 30 leading hotel brands spanning 126 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world.

The company also operates award-winning loyalty programs: Marriott Rewards®, which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest®.

For more information, please visit : www.marriott.com.