Marriott Reports Record Q1 Revenue as Business Travel Surges

Marriott International has reported record first-quarter revenue of $6.4 billion, driven by a sustained surge in business travel that has pushed RevPAR across its global portfolio to levels not seen in the company's history.

The results, announced Tuesday, reflect occupancy rates of 74.3 percent across Marriott's 8,900 properties globally, up from 71.2 percent in the same period last year. Average Daily Rate climbed to $196, an increase of 8.4 percent year-on-year, contributing to a RevPAR of $145.50.

Chief Executive Anthony Capuano attributed the performance to a structural shift in corporate travel behaviour. "We are seeing companies not just return to pre-pandemic travel volumes, but exceed them," Capuano said. "The demand for in-person connection, for client meetings, team off-sites, and industry events, has been stronger and more durable than many forecasters predicted."

Leisure travel continued to contribute meaningfully to the results, with Marriott's luxury tier, including The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, and W Hotels, reporting ADR growth of 12 percent. The company's Bonvoy loyalty programme now has 212 million enrolled members, with direct booking share reaching an all-time high of 61 percent.

Marriott raised its full-year guidance, projecting RevPAR growth of between 5 and 7 percent for 2026, supported by continued corporate travel momentum and strong pipeline additions in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.

The company also confirmed it is on track to add 570 properties to its system by year-end, with approximately 40 percent of new openings in the upper-upscale and luxury segments.