Marriott International will introduce its moderately-priced Courtyard by Marriott brand in Vietnam, under a management agreement announced today with CY – Ham Tan Resort Limited Company.  When opened in 2012, the property will be the first high-quality, internationally-branded mid-tier hotel in the area.

The 200-room hotel will be located on a pristine beachfront site boasting natural sand dunes in the area of La Gi, near the town of Ham Tan, about a three-hour drive along Vietnam’s southeastern coast from Ho Chi Minh City.  It will be part of a mixed-used development that will be built in phases. The project will initially include a residential component and will later add additional hotels, more residential units, a golf course and golf villas.

“We’re thrilled by the continued expansion of our presence in Vietnam and to be introducing our Courtyard brand in Vietnam,” said Ed Fuller, president and managing director of international lodging for Marriott International. “With the opening of this hotel, we’ll be able to offer travelers in Vietnam a choice of four hotel brands from luxury to mid-priced. The World Travel & Tourism Council forecasts that Vietnam tourism over the next 10 years will grow to more than 7 million visitors annually, twice what it was in 2007, and we are positioning ourselves to be able to offer these visitors a hotel stay no matter what their travel budget dictates.”

Said Nguyen Vinh Tho, general director of Saigon Ham Tan Tourism Corporation, owner of CY-Ham Tan Resort Limited Company:  “In 2010, we’re focusing our efforts on ensuring the success of this ambitious project that will consist of a four-star resort, a trade center and high grade villas. We have appointed WATG, a professional, international-standard design company in the US, as the design consultant for the project. We have also invited the Marriott International group of the US, which specializes in managing international-standard hotel and resort franchises, to provide their management expertise to our resort.  Therefore, we believe that our tourism products will be of high quality and distinction in the marketplace. We’re certain tourists will enjoy relaxing on the resort’s beautiful beach that stretches over 2 kilometers of coastline and will appreciate the professional service ambience we will offer.”

Catering to leisure and incentive guests, the 200-room Courtyard by Marriott Ham Tan, Vietnam will be unique, consisting of a mix of standard guest rooms in a series of low-rise buildings as well as semi-detached bungalows located across the expansive development. All guest rooms will offer modern connectivity, comfortable living spaces with a contemporary design as well as ocean views. Guests staying the semi-detached bungalows will also enjoy generous bathrooms with separate tub and shower.

At the Courtyard by Marriott Ham Tan, Vietnam, guests will have a variety of dining options including Courtyard’s signature MoMo Café, a pool bar & grill and an intimate lobby lounge. Incentive groups will benefit from the unique offering for meetings including an outdoor area for catered functions and team-building activities as well as 500 square meters of flexible indoor space.  Leisure guests will enjoy the elaborate pool and desk area, recreational pavilion with a Kids Club and games room as well as an exercise room and spa with six treatment rooms and an area for foot reflexology.