Marriott International will need to recruit more than 12,000 staff over the next five years in order to meet the needs of its growing collection of hotels in the Middle East and Africa.

Alex Kyriakides, President and Managing Director of Marriott International, Middle East and Africa, confirmed that the number of jobs at Marriott hotels in the region is expected to increase by 100 per cent from 11,800 to over 24,000 by the end of 2017, highlighting the company’s ongoing investment in the region. The company also said it will focus its recruitment on the UAE where it will hire 4,400 new associates.

“Marriott International opened its first hotel in the Middle East and Africa 32 years ago and we have continued to invest in the region and build on its rich heritage to become one of the biggest hotel operators.

“Today we have 38 existing properties in 11 countries across seven lodging brands and a further 43 hotels under development which will more than double the number of hotels in the Middle East and Africa over the next five years. These figures are a measure of our commitment to the growth and development of the region’s tourism sector and its position as a leading global business hub,” said Kyriakides.

The announcement follows Sunday’s signing of the Residence Inn by Marriott in Kuwait City, the third Residence Inn by Marriott for extended stay travellers in the GCC.