Marriott to open first hotels in Algeria, Morocco

* To open first hotels in Algeria, Morocco, Ghana by 2012

* Sees strongest growth opportunities in Asia

* Aiming for about 70 hotels in Middle East, Africa by 2015

By Jason Benham

DUBAI, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Marriott International (MAR.N) will open its first hotels in Algeria, Morocco and sub-Saharan Africa by 2012 and sees further opportunities to grow in Asia as the global economic downturn recedes.

"Asia is in the lead and the Middle East and Africa is right up there with it," Ed Fuller, president and managing director of Marriott Lodging International, one of the hotel operator's five business segments, said at a news conference in Dubai on Wednesday.

The U.S-based company, which aims to have more than 70 hotels in the Middle East and Africa by the end of 2015, will open a hotel in Algeria, Morocco and Ghana, and two more in Egypt.

"We've made several forays but have been unable to break into Africa until this point," Fuller said.