Marriott Makes a Monumental Bet on Nepal

In an exclusive interview with The Kathmandu Post ,David Marriott, Chairman of Marriott International, confirmed the signing of two new luxury properties in Nepal The Ritz-Carlton and Westin Hotels & Resorts.

The Quote

“Nepal is ready for luxury,” Marriott said during his first visit to the country. He emphasized using hospitality to reverse “brain drain” bringing trained Nepali talent back home.

The Take

For adventure travel specialists, this validates Nepal as moving beyond “backpacker” status to high-net-worth experiential travel. Marriott is betting that the infrastructure (airports/visas) will catch up to the demand.