Marriott International is expanding into Mexico, with plans to operate 20 hotels across the country by 2016.

The hotels will be developed by FibraHotel, the Mexican lodging REIT.

“In the past five years we have seen a strong emerging Mexican middle class eager to travel,” says Craig S. Smith, president of the Caribbean and Latin America at Marriott. “Economists predict that by 2020, Mexico’s economy will be among the ten largest in the world, truly reinforcing the fact that we are living the ‘Mexican moment.’”

As a result of Marriott’s focus on developing more hotels in Mexico, the company has opened a development office in Mexico City, which is led by Alonso Burgos, director of development for Mexico. Marriott currently operates 23 hotels under five of its brands: The Ritz Carlton, JW Marriott, Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Courtyard by Marriott, and Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott.