Ramada International Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott International Inc, has ranked India among their top six new growth markets in the Asian-Pacific region. The other two countries of note in the region are China and Japan.

Said Robert Wilson, vice-president, development and operations, Asia-Pacific, Ramada International Hotels & Resorts, “India with its latent market potential and developing world image is definitely a very important emerging market for us. It also fits in very well with the Ramada experience and our plans to focus on the development in the Asia-Pacific region. Our focus thus far had been concentrated on countries in Europe and the Middle East.”

The Ramada which is an important member of the Marriott family of international hotel brands, already has a roadmap for India charted out. Says Wilson, “The company has long-terms plan for this country. In the next 10 years, Ramada plans to flag at least 20 properties in India through the franchise route.”

Wilson expressed his optimism on the Indian market during his recent visit to Goa for the reflagging of the Renaissance Goa property, which is now the Ramada Caravela Beach Resort Goa, the brand’s second property in India. The other property being the Ramada Plaza Palm Grove on Juhu Beach, Mumbai.