Marriott Posts Growth Despite Flat Business Travel

Marriott International achieved notable growth in the first quarter of the year, driven primarily by strong performance in its leisure and group travel segments, despite a largely flat business travel market. The company reported resilience in customer demand across all segments globally, reflecting a robust start to the year.

Anthony Capuano, CEO of Marriott, highlighted that worldwide systemwide revenue per available room (RevPAR) increased by 7.2 percent in the first quarter compared to the prior year. This growth also represented a 1.4 percent increase when compared to the first quarter of 2019, indicating a recovery beyond pre-pandemic levels in certain aspects. The company observed strong demand trends continuing through March and into April.

The growth was not uniform across all regions but showed strength globally. Europe experienced a 7.5 percent increase in RevPAR for the first quarter compared to the prior year, while Asia Pacific saw an 8.2 percent increase. In Marriott’s largest market, the United States and Canada, RevPAR rose by 5.5 percent during the same period. This indicates a broad-based recovery and sustained demand in key international and domestic markets.

Regarding the business travel segment, both Capuano and CFO Leeny Oberg noted that the market has remained largely flat year-over-year. While this segment has not shown significant growth, it also has not declined, suggesting a stable but unaccelerated recovery for corporate travel. Despite this stagnation, Marriott’s overall performance was bolstered by the robust demand from leisure travelers and group bookings, which offset the static business travel trends.

Marriott is strategically focused on enhancing its direct booking channels and further engaging its expansive Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program members. With over 200 million members in its loyalty program, the company aims to leverage this base to drive repeat business and direct engagement. Investments in technology are also a key priority, designed to improve the customer experience and operational efficiency across its properties.

Looking ahead, Marriott continues its strategy of expanding its global portfolio. In the first quarter, the company added approximately 11,000 rooms worldwide. For the full year, Marriott projects adding between 80,000 and 84,000 rooms, signaling continued confidence in market expansion and brand reach. The company’s focus remains on attracting more customers to its direct channels, expanding its loyalty base, and delivering consistent growth through a diversified demand mix.

### Key Points

* Worldwide systemwide RevPAR increased by 7.2 percent in the first quarter compared to the prior year.
* Worldwide systemwide RevPAR increased by 1.4 percent in the first quarter compared to the first quarter of 2019.
* Europe RevPAR increased by 7.5 percent in the first quarter compared to the prior year.
* Asia Pacific RevPAR increased by 8.2 percent in the first quarter compared to the prior year.
* United States and Canada RevPAR increased by 5.5 percent in the first quarter compared to the prior year.
* Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program has over 200 million members.
* Marriott added approximately 11,000 rooms in the first quarter.
* Marriott projects adding 80,000 to 84,000 rooms for the full year.
* Average daily rate (ADR) was up 2 percent in the first quarter.
* Occupancy was up 200 basis points in the first quarter.

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