New Delhi, Nov 6 (IANS) Global hospitality major Marriott International has opened one of its flagship hotels — Courtyard — in Gurgaon, near here, and said it was planning an expansion spree in the country.

The Gurgaon Courtyard is a 199-room four-star deluxe hotel and will commence operations Nov 25. It is among three Courtyard hotels that will be opened in the country this year.

Marriott, which only manages hotels and doesn’t own them, also plans to open three five-star luxury hotels of its premium brand J.W. Marriott.

‘We already have two Courtyards operational, and are about to open three more this year. Two more will be added by next year,’ said Rajeev Menon, area (India, Pakistan and Maldives) vice-president of the Marriott group.

The group’s business was hit adversely last year due to the global financial crisis and the terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

‘Average revenues per available room across the country are down 20 percent,’ said Menon.

According to a Crisil research report, average room rates will go down by 23 percent in 2009-10 and may decline further by around 18 percent in 2010-11.

‘A lot of companies had put a curb on their travel plans, meeting budgets and so. However, we are seeing a revival in group travel, which accounts for a good chunk of the business,’ said Dominic Sherry, vice-president (Asia-Pacific region).