Marriott plans to double European properties - WSJ

NEW YORK, March 8 (Reuters) - Marriott International Inc (MAR.N) plans to more than double the number of its properties in Europe in the next few years, with an announcement from the hotel company expected Tuesday, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The plan, if successful, would create 40,000 more hotel rooms on the Continent with Marriott brand names, the report said. The company now has 174 hotels in 24 countries in Europe that operate under the Marriott, Ritz Carlton and Renaissance brands, among others, it said.

Marriott is expected to announce its plans on Tuesday at the Hotel Investment Forum, a conference in Berlin, the report said. (Reporting by Ransdell Pierson; Editing by Gary Hill)