Marriott International, a Maryland-headquartered hotelier, has made an announcement concerning the opening of 6 new hotels in Europe under the Autograph Collection brand. All hotels belong to the Italian chain Boscolo Hotels. Even though they will change their names and Marriott will set up its reservation system, all accommodations will not change their ownership and operating organization.
First property to be rebranded is the 87-key Boscolo Palace hotel in Rome. Until 2012 the hotelier will re-brand the 152-key Boscolo hotel in Prague, the 185-key Boscolo hotel in Budapest, the 72-key Boscolo hotel in Venice, the 154-key Boscolo hotel in Milan, and the 238-key Boscolo hotel in Rome.
As Kip Vreeland, the vice-president of the Autograph Collection brand, said, they had paid attention to the collection of Boscolo hotels many years ago. However, the management of the Boscolo company rejected Marriott’s suggestions as they did not fit the unique hotels by the company. Finally, after the Autograph Collection brand had been launched, both parties came to the agreement.
By the end of the year Autograph Collection will increase the number of independently owned properties in its portfolio up to 40. Marriott is going to add to more properties in Europe in addition to the mentioned ones, and then plans to expand its business by adding hotels in the US, Canada, South America and Caribbean.