Ghale Couple’s ‘Luxury Collection by Marriott’ Hotel to Open This Year

June 7, Kathmandu – David Marriott, Chairman of the international hotel brand Marriott International, recently inspected the luxury hotel under construction in Kathmandu named “Luxury Collection by Marriott.”

Arriving in Kathmandu on Sunday morning, Chairman Marriott visited the hotel with senior managers soon after his arrival. He expressed great satisfaction at seeing a hotel of such standards being developed in Kathmandu.

Observing the near-finished rooms, Marriott remarked, “Wow, this meets European standards; it’s highly impressive!”

The hotel, being built in Thamel by former Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) chairman Shesh Ghale and his wife Jamuna Gurung, was initially announced to open under Marriott Group’s Sheraton brand.

During the inspection, Chairman Marriott praised the vision and determination of the investors involved in the project.

Taking into account the quality and scale of investment, Marriott elevated the hotel to luxury-grade status and granted it the “Luxury Collection by Marriott” brand.

When will the hotel open?

The Luxury Collection by Marriott hotel, featuring a total of 225 rooms, is preparing to open by the end of this year, according to the management.

“Construction is progressing swiftly,” said hotel operator Shesh Ghale. “All building work will be completed within the next three to four months.”

Construction of the hotel began in 2013/14. With additional investment, the total cost is expected to reach around 1.5 billion Nepali Rupees, Ghale added. “We are delighted that the hotel’s completion is now just three to four months away,” he said.

Ghale noted that this will be Marriott’s first Luxury Collection hotel in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal, and it is being developed according to Marriott’s global standards.

Jamuna Gurung, another operator of the hotel, stated that this will be South Asia’s first Luxury Collection hotel managed by Marriott International.

“Not only Nepal but the entire South Asia is witnessing the construction of its first Luxury Collection hotel, which is why Chairman Marriott personally came to inspect it,” Gurung said. “He was pleased with our investment and progress, and the hotel is likely to be operational by the end of this year.”

She also mentioned that approximately 70% of the construction has been completed, with interior decoration remaining. Some delays occurred due to a shortage of semi-skilled and skilled labor.

Gurung added, “Our target market is tourists willing to spend more for premium experiences. Since it is a Luxury Collection property, we aim to provide facilities at par with or better than those available in hotels in the US, Europe, or elsewhere.”

About Marriott International

Marriott International, founded in 1993, is the world’s largest hotel chain based in the United States. The company operates 9,361 hotels and resorts across 144 countries under 36 brands, comprising 1,760,331 rooms.

In 2024, Marriott International reported revenues of approximately $2.51 billion and a net profit of $238 million. The company employs around 418,000 staff worldwide.

Its subsidiary brands include Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Le Meridien, Ritz Carlton Hotels, Sheraton Hotels, Westin Hotels & Resorts, Bulgari Hotels & Resorts, Edition Hotels, JW Marriott Hotels, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, and The Luxury Collection, among others.