Marriott International has added a further 1,126 rooms to its Middle East and Africa pipeline after announcing plans to open five new hotels in the regions over the next three years.

The company will unveil its first properties in Algeria, Ghana and Morocco as part of its expansion proposals in the Middle East and Africa, which will see a total of 44 hotels and 10,800 bedrooms under construction or in planning. Operated under long-term management contracts, the five planned properties will boost the company's presence in the area to more than 70 hotels between now and the end of 2015.

The 227-room Algiers Marriott will become Marriott's first Algerian property - owned by Trust Real Estate SPA - in 2012 as part of a mixed-use scheme along with the 180-unit Algiers Marriott executive apartments and the 209-room Accra Marriott, Ghana is scheduled to open in late 2010 owned by African Hospitality. Marriott's first Moroccan hotel - the 216-room Marrakech Marriott Palm Golf Hotel - is due to open in 2012 under the ownership of a joint venture between H Partners and Domaine Palm Marrakech SAS as part of a major scheme boasting an 18-hole golf course and a country club.

Meanwhile, the company will unveil its sixth resort on the Red Sea and eight property in Egypt - the 294-room Sahl Hasheesh Marriott Beach Resort - converted from the existing Old Palace Resort and to be rebranded in 2011. Ed Fuller, president and managing director international lodging for Marriott, said: "The Middle East appears to have weathered the global economic storm and we're beginning to look forward to rising occupancies through the end of this year and into next.

"With its diverse cultural and historic attractions, unique geography and the industry's changing travel patterns, we expect the Middle East and Africa as a whole to play an increasingly important role in the future."