Nancy Trejos | USA TODAY
Marriott International, the largest hotel company in the world, is betting big on modular construction to drive its growth in North America.
The Bethesda, Md.-based company expects to sign 50 hotel deals this year that would incorporate prefabricated guestrooms and/or bathrooms. That would make up about 13% of signings for North America this year.
The construction process works like this: Guestrooms and bathrooms are built away from the site of the hotel in a climate-controlled factory. Once completed, the units are transported to the site, where the base and frame of the property have been built.