By Alexander Britell

Marriott International is getting into the all-inclusive game, with plans to debut a new all-inclusive platform that will begin with five new resorts in the wider Caribbean-Mexico region.

In a major foray into the increasingly competitive all-inclusive sector,  the company said it had signed management contracts with developers who will invest more than $800 million to debut five new all-inclusive resorts.

“The diversity and global nature of our brands give guests the opportunity to find the perfect match for nearly any travel experience or destination,” said Tina Edmundson, Global Brand Officer for Marriott International. “By expanding our portfolio with this new offering, we are opening up a new way for travelers to explore our incredible brands – from Westin to W – through a new, all-inclusive lens.”

That will include a new 650-room all-inclusive Autograph Collection resort in Punta Cana, which will open its doors in 2022.

The other four properties will all be set in the Riviera Nayarit in Mexico, with resorts under the Ritz-Carlton, Westin, Autograph Collection and Marriott brands.

It’s the second major foray for Marriott this year, following its announcement in April that it was entering the luxury villa sector.

The Mexico resorts will total 1,440 rooms.

“Our new all-inclusive resort platform is a natural progression for Marriott International,” said Tony Capuano, Marriott International’s Executive Vice President and Global Chief Development Officer. “It will provide the ownership community a game-changing value proposition for their luxury and premium resort projects around the world, while providing guests a new vacation option with brands they trust.”

The company said it would further expand the new all-inclusive portfolio to popular leisure destinations worldwide, “with a mix of new-build properties and conversions of existing resorts.

“We are thrilled to be developing an all-inclusive Autograph Collection resort in the Dominican Republic in collaboration with Marriott International,” said Mihail Popov, CEO of DIT Hotels, based in Sofia, Bulgaria. “Working with Marriott International means we have access to its brand, design and business expertise as we develop our resort in Punta Cana, and once we open, we’ll benefit from the company’s operational excellence and base of enthusiastic Marriott Bonvoy members who are always seeking out new experiences.”

The Riviera Nayarit properties will be developed by Mexico City-based Artha Capital, which plans to create NIA, an all-inclusive destination in which the four aforementioned resorts will be based.

“We are thrilled to be working with Marriott International to create a first-of-its-kind, exciting vacation destination in Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit that will feature four of the company’s distinct brand experiences,” said Gerardo Férnandez, Managing Director, Hospitality Platform, Artha Capital. “By bringing together a mix of premium and luxury brands on our beautiful, oceanfront site, we have the opportunity to redefine what ‘all-inclusive vacationing’ truly means. We have high confidence in Marriott International, the power of its brands and loyalty program, and are confident that this project will be a success.”