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The Sheraton Qiandao Lake Resort in China is Starwood’s 1,000th hotel to date. // (C) 2010 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. |
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. is taking advantage of the slow economy and embarking on a massive global growth and expansion initiative over the next few years, with 300 additional hotels to be added within the next three to four years around the world.
This year, the company is planning to unveil 80 to 100 new hotels, the majority of which will be concentrated in the Asia Pacific region, including 20 in China. The company plans to double its presence in China with 100 new properties by 2012. Starwood also anticipates increasing its presence in India by 60 percent by the end of 2012; currently, it has 26 properties in the country. Just last month, Starwood celebrated the opening of its 1,000th hotel and resort, the Sheraton Qiandao Lake Resort in China.
“Some expect that more than 70 percent of the world’s growth over the next decade will come from emerging — or what we like to call ‘fast-growing’ — markets, which is consistent with Starwood’s global pipeline of new hotels and skew toward development in markets like China and India,” said Simon Turner, Starwood president of Global Development. “By working with the right partners in the right places on the right properties, we are well poised to continue to lead the charge in growth throughout these critical markets.”
Earlier this year, Starwood announced plans to reinvest in its Sheraton brand, and the company is seeking to expand its Aloft Hotels and Four Points by Sheraton brands as well. This year, Starwood plans to open 10 new Aloft hotels — including three in India, two in New York and one in Brussels, Belgium. Four Points by Sheraton is expected to open 16 new properties this year, following a $1 billion reinvestment into the brand.
Starwood also recently launched its 2010 global sales blitz last month, during which more than 3,000 hotel and sales associates from 700 different properties met with key clients and influencers to drive revenues. The global campaign is expected to generate more than 100,000 new leads.
Additional Starwood hotel brands include St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W, The Westin and Le Meridien.
Starwood Hotels
www.starwoodhotels.com
