Marriott International says it plans to have twice as many China locations in about 5 years

Marriott plans to double presence in China by 2015

BETHESDA, Md. — Marriott International Inc. said Monday it plans to double the number of hotels it runs in China in about five years.

Marriott had 47 hotels in China at the end of the first quarter and expects to have a total of 60 by the end of 2010. On Monday it announced plans for seven more locations. The company’s chains include Ritz-Carlton, Marriott, JW Marriott, Renaissance, and Courtyard by Marriott.

The company said China is expected to be the world’s largest single source of international tourism and top travel destination within the next 10 years.