Marriott International, the largest U.S. lodging chain, with groups including Le Meridien and W Hotels, are planning to open their first hotels in Taiwan.
Marriott is working with Taiwanese businessman BV Riu, owner of Taipei-based luxury hotel Sherwood, on a $195 million, a 352-room lodging franchise agreement.
Le Meridien and W Hotels, both owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts are also planning to open premises in the city this year.
Visitors from China may surpass those from Japan to become the highest source of arrivals in Taiwan this year. Relaxed travel rules that has been off limits to mainland Chinese for 60 years is a main reason for this increase.
International hotel chains and local developers in Taiwan plan to invest NT$83 billion building 45 hotels and resorts, adding 10,865 rooms, in the next three years, the island’s tourism bureau said on its website.
China overtook France last year as the world’s fourth- largest source of travel expenditure, according to the United Nation’s World Tourism Organization.
Germany was the biggest, followed by the U.S. and the U.K.
According to the China National Tourism Administration forecast about 54 million Chinese may travel abroad this year.
