Marriott International has opened its first two hotels in Sweden - the Courtyard Stockholm Kungsholmen and the Renaissance Malmo.

Arne Sorenson, president and chief operations officer of Marriott International, said: "We recently announced our goal to double our portfolio in Europe by 2015 and are thrilled to now be expanding into Sweden with our partners Scandinavian Hospitality Group and Scandinavian Hospitality Management. "We expect this to result in the opening of many more hotels in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland."

The 278-room Courtyard Stockholm Kungsholmen is the largest Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in Europe, with guestrooms offering views of the lake Mälaren and the Rålambshovs Park. Facilities include 12 meeting rooms, a fitness centre and an urban, loft-style restaurant called Bjork Bar & Grill. The latter takes its name from the Swedish for 'birch tree' and has been designed to represent a virtual forest, featuring the colours and textures of the local trees, moss, lichen, granite and berries.

The Renaissance Malmo Hotel, with 128 guestrooms, occupies three historic buildings in the heart of the city which date back to 1800. Facilities include a fitness centre; Rosen Bar & Dining, said to offer a new spin on local cuisine by blending contemporary Swedish cuisine with Spanish flavours; a seafood restaurant called Johan P; and a T.G.I. Friday's American eaterie. Marriott's first hotel in Scandinavia was the Copenhagen Marriott Hotel. This opened in 2001 and has recently undergone a renovation of its main lobby space and the addition of a new restaurant, the Mid Town Grill. The total refurbishment of all 401 guestrooms is expected to be completed some time next year.