Marriott International, a leading luxury hospitality group, has launched two new Residence Inn properties in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Residence Inn by Marriott Kuwait City offers 139 suites, while Residence Inn by Marriott Jazan in Saudi Arabia has 79 suites, a report in the Hotelier Middle East said.

The new properties reflect the group’s expansion plans to open 12 properties across the Middle East and Africa, adding 1,228 rooms to the extended stay sector, by 2018.

The hospitality brand further plans to double its presence in the region with six executive apartments properties in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Gabon, and Ethiopia in the pipeline.

“The region’s extended-stay segment continues to go from strength to strength, boosted by both economic growth as well as a new generation of travellers,” said Alex Kyriakidis, president and managing director, Marriott International Middle East and Africa.

“While we are seeing rising demand for extended-stay accommodation across the board, it’s particularly important to note that nearly a quarter of our Gen-Y guests stay in our MEA hotels for five or more nights - the highest portion of Gen-Y extended-stay travellers of any region in the world.”