BARCELONA, Spain (XOL Africa) — Marriott International has signed agreements with Catalonia Hotels & Resorts to develop two new all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica and Tanzania, expanding the U.S. hospitality giant’s presence in key leisure destinations.
The agreements, signed July 22 in Barcelona, will bring a Marriott Hotels All-Inclusive Resort to Montego Bay, Jamaica, and an Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort to Zanzibar, Tanzania.
“These agreements represent a significant milestone in our all-inclusive strategy and demonstrate the strength of our relationships with experienced owners seeking to maximize value through Marriott’s globally recognized brands,” said Laurent de Kousemaeker, Marriott’s chief development officer for the Caribbean and Latin America.
The 522-room Marriott All-Inclusive Resort in Montego Bay is expected to open in 2028 following the conversion of the former Catalonia Montego Bay. The beachfront property, located near Sangster International Airport, is planned to include 13 dining venues, three swimming pools, a spa, fitness center, tennis and pickleball courts and a lazy river.
The resort is also expected to offer about 12,917 square feet (1,200 square meters) of meeting space and more than 2,130 feet (650 meters) of beachfront.
In Zanzibar, Marriott plans to open a 271-room Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort in 2027. The new-build property is expected to emphasize wellness and include several swimming pools, a spa, theater, specialty restaurants and an oceanfront jetty featuring a seawater pool and bar.
The resort is intended to combine the distinctive character of the Autograph Collection brand with Zanzibar’s culture and natural attractions.
“These signings highlight Marriott’s ability to grow strategically across multiple regions while serving owners with differentiated solutions tailored to local market opportunities,” said Jerome Briet, Marriott’s chief development officer for Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Catalonia Hotels & Resorts currently owns, leases and operates 82 hotels with more than 12,000 rooms across 25 destinations. The company already has a relationship with Marriott through its ownership of the Renaissance Barcelona Fira Hotel.
“We are pleased to strengthen our relationship with Marriott International through these two significant projects,” said Manuel Valenzuela, Catalonia’s chief commercial and operations officer. “This agreement reflects leading international brands’ recognition of our operational excellence and the strength of our management model.”
Marriott said the agreements form part of its broader expansion of the all-inclusive business. As of July 2026, the company had 38 all-inclusive properties across nine markets in the Caribbean and Latin America, with 16 additional properties representing about 5,600 rooms in the development pipeline.
In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Marriott has four all-inclusive projects in its pipeline, representing nearly 1,990 rooms.
The company said the expansion will also give guests access to Marriott Bonvoy, its global travel platform with nearly 283 million members.
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