Marriott adds midscale City Express brand to Asia Pacific

OSAKA, Japan — Marriott International has signed an agreement with Pacifica Hotels G.K. to convert two hotels in Osaka, Japan, to its midscale City Express by Marriott brand, marking the debut of the brand in Asia Pacific.

Following a rebrand, the hotels, which were acquired by AB Capital in August, are expected to reopen in 2026 as the City Express by Marriott Osaka Namba South and the City Express by Marriott Osaka Shin-Imamiya.

The company said these openings reflect Marriott’s continued focus on expanding its midscale portfolio in Japan and across APEC (Asia Pacific excluding China).  

Marriott has worked with Pacifica G.K. several times before this investment for hotel investments in Japan, including the Moxy Tokyo Kinshicho, Fairfield Osaka Namba, Moxy Kyoto Nijo and Courtyard by Marriott Hiroshima.

While it didn’t offer pipeline numbers, Marriott said, through a spokesperson, that these signings underscore its “position in the region to offer thoughtfully designed, accessible and connected accommodations for modern travelers and we’ll continue to explore opportunities to expand the brand across the region.” Marriott first entered the midscale segment in Asia Pacific with Four Points Flex by Sheraton in Japan back in 2024 and by the end of 2025, will have 16 of those hotels operating across 11 cities in Japan.

“We are pleased to once again collaborate with Pacifica Hotels G.K. and its investor AB Capital to bring City Express by Marriott to Japan, which is also expected to mark the brand’s debut in Asia Pacific,” said Shawn Hill, chief development officer, Asia Pacific excluding China, Marriott International. “This signing reflects our continued commitment to growing strategically across the region and expanding our offerings to meet the evolving needs of today’s travelers.”

“With hotel rates rising rapidly across Japan, we see a huge opportunity to offer guests a quality stay at a reasonable price with City Express by Marriott,” said Seth Sulkin, CEO of Pacifica Hotels G.K. and its subsidiary Shin Imamiya Hospitality, the franchisee for both of these hotels. “These hotels will give travelers the opportunity to discover the vibrant area south of Namba, where we see strong potential and growing demand.”

“City Express by Marriott represents more than a traditional real estate investment; it embodies our vision for Osaka’s mid-scale hospitality market,” said Alan Kam, founder and CEO of AB Capital. “Through this agreement with Marriott, we are transforming these assets into a globally recognized brand that addresses a growing demand for accessible, high-quality accommodations.”

With hotel rates rising rapidly across Japan, we see a huge opportunity to offer guests a quality stay at a reasonable price with City Express by Marriott.

Seth Sulkin

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The 100-key City Express by Marriott Shin-Imamiya will be a nine-story standalone property located in Haginochaya, Nishinari-ku, directly adjacent to Shin-Imamiya Station, a major interchange served by the JR Osaka Loop Line, Nankai Main Line, and Osaka Metro.

The 143-key City Express by Marriott Osaka Namba South is planned as a 14-story standalone property, located at Hanazono-kita, Nishinari-ku, adjacent to Hanazonochō Station on the Osaka Metro Yotsubashi Line.  

Both hotels are situated within retail, residential, and commercial hubs, providing easy access to Osaka’s top attractions. They are also connected to Kansai International Airport via the Nankai Main Line. 

City Express expansion

Marriott acquired the City Express brand portfolio in May 2023 for $100 million, which added 17,000 rooms in Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Chile and increased the company’s footprint in the CALA region by approximately 45%.

A year after touting a “Project Mid-T by Marriott” brand expansion, it announced that Marriott was expanding the City Express brand into the U.S. and Canada, marking the brand’s first expansion outside of Latin America and Marriott’s entry into the “affordable midscale transient” segment.

The company has since expanded City Express into El Salvador and Brazil. At the time, Marriott said the City Express by Marriott brand had a presence in five countries with an additional six markets and over 60 projects in the pipeline.