SINGAPORE - Starwood Hotels & Resorts has opened its
150th hotel in Asia Pacific - the ITC Royal Gardenia, a
Luxury Collection Hotel in Bengaluru. The opening of the
292-room hotel in India underscores Starwood's long-term
strategic growth plans in Asia Pacific, where it has
executed 23 new deals in 2009 - seven hotels have been
opened prior to the opening of ITC Royal Gardenia and
another seven hotels are slated to open by the end of this
year.
"Reaching our 150th hotel in Asia Pacific is an
important next step for Starwood as we progress on the
journey to open our 1,000th hotel and resort worldwide,"
said Frits van Paasschen, Starwood president and CEO. "The
growth opportunities in Asia Pacific are unsurpassed
perhaps anywhere in the world. And we are working with our
best-in-class partners to further extend our position as
the region's largest upper-upscale and luxury hotel
company, while strengthening our place as the industry
innovator in the select service segment."
Starwood's 150 high-caliber hotels can be found in 20
countries throughout its Asia-Pacific Division, with the
most significant growth occurring in China and India.
"Starwood has responded to Asia Pacific's acute need for
lodging by working to open top quality conversion and
new-build properties throughout this dynamic market," said
Simon Turner, president of global development, Starwood
Hotels & Resorts. "In particular, China and India are
fertile ground for Starwood as developers look to partner
with world class brands that offer compelling guest
experiences and are backed by powerful centralized sales
and marketing systems."
Within China, Starwood is set to double its current
footprint to 100 hotels by 2012. India, on the other hand,
is now home to 23 Starwood hotels, with another 15 under
development.
Beyond China and India, this year Starwood is opening
its second Sheraton in Korea and will soon be opening its
first Sheraton resort in Vietnam. Starwood also recently
signed new deals for a Sheraton resort and spa in New
Caledonia and a Le Meridien in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
In 2010, the St. Regis brand will debut in Tibet, Thailand
and Japan, while W makes its mark in Thailand and
Indonesia.
Starwood's midscale brand, Four Points by Sheraton, is
also meaningfully expanding with its first opening in
Malaysia in 2009 and its first in Thailand in 2010.