Marriott Adds Jamaica and Tanzania Resorts to All-Inclusive Pipeline Through Catalonia Deal

Marriott is adding two more resorts to its all-inclusive pipeline, with a bigger-format Marriott Hotels property in Jamaica and an Autograph Collection resort in Tanzania. The timing matters as much as the geography: Marriott expects the Zanzibar resort to open in 2027 and the Montego Bay resort in 2028, so this is a medium-term growth move rather than new inventory guests can book now.

For operators, the sharper signal is the brand split. Marriott is not using a single all-inclusive template here. It is pairing a mainstream Marriott Hotels flag with Jamaica and a more independent-positioned Autograph Collection flag with Zanzibar, suggesting different operating models for two leisure markets.

What Marriott and Catalonia signed

The agreement with Catalonia Hotels & Resorts covers two pipeline properties:

• A 522-room Marriott Hotels All-Inclusive Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, expected in 2028.
• A 271-room Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort in Zanzibar, Tanzania, expected in 2027.

Marriott said the Jamaica resort will come from the conversion of the former Catalonia Montego Bay. In practical terms, that points to a conversion-led expansion play rather than a ground-up debut, usually a faster route into market if execution stays on track.

Catalonia is also not a minor counterparty. The company says it owns, leases, and operates 82 hotels totaling more than 12,000 rooms, which gives Marriott an established operating partner as it continues building out all-inclusive supply.

Why the two-brand approach matters

The operational logic looks different for each resort.

A 522-room Marriott Hotels All-Inclusive Resort in Montego Bay is the larger commercial play. At that scale, the resort is likely to rely on strong food-and-beverage throughput, broad family or group appeal, and tighter delivery of a recognizable full-service brand promise.

The 271-room Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort in Zanzibar looks more like a differentiated destination product. That gives Marriott room to lean into a more individual resort identity while still feeding demand through Marriott Bonvoy and Marriott’s distribution system.

For travelers, the immediate impact is future choice rather than current bookability. For owners and brand watchers, the more important point is that Marriott is still widening its all-inclusive platform across both established Caribbean demand and newer Indian Ocean positioning.

Where this sits in Marriott’s wider pipeline

Marriott said it has 38 open all-inclusive properties in CALA and 20 more projects in the pipeline across CALA and EMEA. Jamaica adds to a region where Marriott already has all-inclusive scale. Tanzania is the more notable market extension, because it broadens the model into a destination where Marriott is using a softer brand framework rather than a one-size-fits-all resort flag.

The deal does not create short-term booking momentum on its own. Its real commercial value is showing how Marriott intends to keep growing all-inclusive: through conversions, through experienced partners, and through brand positioning tailored to the destination instead of repeated wholesale across every market.