As part of a global reorganization aimed at accelerating worldwide growth, Marriott International, Inc. plans to double its portfolio in Europe by 2015. Amy McPherson, president and managing director of Marriott International Europe, made the announcement at the International Hotel Investment Forum here.

Celebrating 35 years in Europe this year, Marriott International is represented with 174 hotels in Europe, and envisions increasing its portfolio from 40,000 rooms to 80,000 rooms by 2015.  Seven of Marriott’s 18 brands are represented currently in Europe: Ritz-Carlton, Bvlgari, JW Marriott, Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Renaissance Hotels, Courtyard by Marriott and Marriott Executive Apartments. In addition, the first European Residence Inn, an extended-stay brand, will open in Munich in 2012.

The development pipeline in Europe includes nearly 30 projects including the Renaissance Moscow Monarch Center Hotel (2010), the Courtyard by Marriott Budapest (2010) and the JW Marriott Hotel Ankara (2010).

“We see strong opportunity throughout Europe to grow our portfolio,” said Arne Sorenson, president and chief operating officer of Marriott International. “Our new operating structure, comprised of four continental divisions including Europe, will help facilitate global growth and bring our teams closer to markets and to our customers.  We have tremendous opportunities to grow, with over a third of our current pipeline and about half of our full-service openings this year located in markets outside North America.”

Said McPherson: “Europe is the largest lodging market in the world and holds enormous potential for Marriott. Our talented new team here is aggressively accelerating our focus on growth.”

“With a footing in most of Europe’s gateway cities, we are thrilled to see our expansion continue into secondary cities and emerging markets. We are confident we are well- positioned to achieve this ambitious expansion goal,” she said. 

Named the head of Marriott’s European operating division in July 2009, McPherson is responsible for almost $3 billion in revenue across 24 countries and 23 languages and the performance and growth of this new division that combines the former United Kingdom & Ireland and Continental Europe regions. McPherson joined Marriott in 1986 and most recently served as Executive Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing. 

Expansion plans for Europe also include two new brands: Edition, a boutique-lifestyle collaboration between Ian Schrager and Marriott; and the Autograph Collection, comprised of independent hotels and resorts from around the world representing upper-upscale and luxury properties with distinctive personalities.

“We expect the Autograph Collection will be a very popular conversion brand in Europe given the region’s variety of iconic, independent and small hotel groups,” said Carlton Ervin, chief development officer for Marriott International in Europe. Ervin added that hotel owners in Europe recognize the value of Marriott’s brand preference and superior systems, sales and technology platforms.