Marriott International Vice President, Hotel Development, Australia, NZ and Pacific, Richard Crawford.

What potential does Marriott see in the Perth market for the Courtyard brand?

As the world’s largest hotel company, it is usual for Marriott International to operate multiple hotels in primary accommodation markets. In Perth, we operate just four hotels, so we see genuine potential to grow our reach and market share by securing footholds with new brands, in new precincts, that target specific customer segments.

How do you see demand for the Courtyard brand playing out in a mixed-use development, combined with a health facility?

“Courtyard by Marriott has led the global accommodation industry in meeting the needs of value-conscious business travellers since breaking into the market over 30 years ago. The brand has continuously evolved, by adapting its communal design hallmarks and authentic service ethos that make Courtyard so appealing to a broad range of customer segments.

This ‘all things to all people’ positioning makes Courtyard the ideal brand for mixed-use developments, where the purpose of travel varies greatly, and the seamless coexistence of different customer groups is crucial.

Courtyard By Marriott Perth, Murdoch, will feature 150 rooms and is slated to open in 2024.

With the new Perth property situated outside the CBD, and with Auburn, Mulgrave and Truganina to come, is Courtyard by Marriott aligned to the ideal that its target markets are looking to stay outside city centres?

From experience, we know that as cities expand, demand drivers for visitor accommodation also extend into new quarters.

Growing populations, new infrastructure, hospitals, schools, and commercial hubs all contribute to a new need for hotels. It is important to understand, however, that these early stages of urbanisation typically first see demand for mid-tier hotels of modest scale. For Marriott International, that means a 150-room Courtyard branded hotel will serve the market particularly well, and will likely be the very best offering in the region, whilst remaining in reach of most travellers’ budgets.