ASIA remains a high priority market for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, accounting for approximately a quarter of the group’s existing hotel rooms and over half of its pipeline.
Nearly two-thirds of Starwood’s new hotels in 2013 will open in fast-growing markets. Starwood plans to open its first property in Tajikistan, while also expanding further in such Asia-Pacific markets as Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh, China and India.
Starwood’s new luxury hotels in the region for 2013 include The Castle Hotel in Dalian, China; Vana Belle, Koh Samui in Thailand; and W Guangzhou – the first W Hotel in mainland China.
In the upscale segment, Sheraton will roll out nine properties in China this year, adding to its inventory of 57 hotels in the country. The Westin brand will debut in Chennai, Singapore, Qingdao, as well as Haikou and Sanya in Hainan, while Le Méridien properties will be launched in Ho Chi Minh City. Dhaka and Mahabaleshwar in India, in addition to Zhengzhou and Jiaonan in China.
Starwood’s mid-market portfolio, which includes Aloft, Element and Four Points by Sheraton, will account for about one-third of the company’s global development pipeline and nearly 45 per cent of expected hotel openings worldwide in 2013. Aloft’s portfolio will be driven heavily by openings in China, North America and India in 2013, and will debut in Panama, Malaysia and Turkey during the year.
“Rising wealth, increasingly global businesses and a digitally connected world are creating unprecedented demand for travel and new travel patterns, and we continue to be as bullish as ever about our long-term growth,” said Frits van Paasschen, president and CEO.
Starwood signed a total of 131 new hotel management and franchise agreements in 2012, representing an increase of 17 per cent over 2011 signings levels, including 31 conversions, 12 of which opened during 2012, according to Simon Turner, president of global development.
