W Hotels Signs Second Resort in Bali as Marriott Expands Presence in Asia-Pacific

W Hotels signed its second lux resort in Bali, set to debut in 2020, as parent company Marriott International looks to deepen its footprint in the Asia-Pacific region.

This expansion into Ubud, Bali, marks the second W Hotel in Indonesia, following the opening of W Bali – Seminyak. Developed in partnership with Indonesia's Ruang Teknik Group, W Bali – Ubud will “combine the brand's boundary-breaking approach to design with the rich cultural, spiritual and artistic influences of Ubud.”

Perched on a hilltop, the hotel will boast unobstructed views of the Tanggayuda Valley. W Bali – Ubud will house 100 guestrooms, including 10 villas with private swimming pools and an EWOW suite (the brand's take on the traditional Presidential Suite).

There will be two pools, a WET Deck (pool deck) featuring terraced pools “inspired by the rice paddles historically used in the region” with a poolside Sunset Bar, and another designated quiet pool. Guests can also recharge at the signature AWAY Spa with a selection of locally infused treatments.

The resort’s on-site bars and restaurants will incorporate cuisine with a Balinese twist. Synn, a Balinese specialty restaurant, will be located partially underground, opening towards a jungle cliff. All-day dining restaurant Morinda will have an in-house bakery, fresh-pressed juices, and a strong vegan focus. Wanderbar, the hotel's panoramic cocktail bar, is nestled on one of the hotel's highest hills, offering 360-degree views.

The property’s event space includes a 577-square-foot meeting room featuring natural lighting and outdoor lawn spaces. Both the outdoor and indoor event spaces utilize bamboo, landscaping with live planting, and indoor material used to accent the spaces with a natural touch.

Expanding its Asia Pacific footprint
The new hotel is part of Marriott’s larger expansion plans in the Asia-Pacific. The company outlined its target to open 1,000 properties in the region by the end of 2020.

This year alone, Marriott expects to add close to 100 new hotels, with several brand debuts in Australia, Hong Kong, The Philippines, Nepal, and India.

China will continue to be the strongest growth driver for Marriott in the Asia-Pacific, with more than 300 hotels in the pipeline. Marriott will open more than 30 hotels in China this year, including the first JW Marriott Marquis Hotel in China, the 515-room JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Shanghai Pudong featuring six food and beverage outlets; and the first Renaissance Hotel in the Fujian province, with the planned opening of Renaissance Xiamen Resort & Spa in the fourth quarter of 2019. Outside of mainland China, the St. Regis brand is set to debut with the opening of St. Regis Hong Kong, located in the historic Wanchai district.

With India’s robust economy and rising middle class, there has been a growing demand for its upper upscale and luxury portfolios. Marriott expects to debut the Tribute Portfolio brand in India, with the opening of Port Muziris, Kochi, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel slated for the second quarter of 2019.

There are over 140 signed hotels in its Southeast Asia pipeline, with Indonesia leading the growth. In the Philippines, the company expects to more than triple its hotel portfolio by 2023. Sheraton, Marriott International’s most global brand, recently debuted in the country, with the opening of Sheraton Manila Hotel.

Marriott expects to open 50 hotels by 2020 in the Pacific region. Australia will see several brand debuts in coming years, including The Luxury Collection and The Ritz-Carlton. The Tasman, a Luxury Collection Hotel, expects to open in Hobart in late 2019; and the 205-room The Ritz-Carlton Perth is slated to open in June 2019.  Element Hotels, Marriott International’s eco-conscious brand, is expected to debut in Australia, with the opening of Element Melbourne Richmond in the third quarter of this year.