Starwood Hotels & Resorts expects to add 11 new hotels this year, driven by emerging markets in Asia and Latin America.
Seven new Westin hotels will open in Asia Pacific in 2013, increasing the brand’s regional portfolio to nearly 50 hotels by year-end. These will include several new openings in China, including The Westin Haikou, The Westin Sanya Haitang Bay Resort, The Westin Chongqing Liberation Square and The Westin Qingdao.
The brand will also return to Singapore this year with the opening of The Westin Singapore in late 2013, while The Westin Chennai Velachery will expand its portfolio in India.
In Latin America, this year’s opening of The Westin Panama will increase the brand’s regional portfolio to 11 hotels spanning five countries, including Panama, Mexico, Peru, Costa Rica and Guatemala.
“A long-time developer favourite in the US, Westin has emerged as a global market leader as witnessed by our surge of new hotel development in Asia Pacific, as well as continued momentum in Latin America,” said Simon Turner, president of global development for Starwood. “We see continued opportunities for global growth through both world-class new build projects and conversions where developers benefit from the strength of the brand and Starwood’s powerful systems.”
Other global additions in 2013 will include new Westins in Houston, Birmingham (Alabama), Sacramento and San Jose.
Starwood currently operates 190 Westin properties in 40 countries, so 2013′s openings will take its portfolio beyond the 200 mark.
Source: www.traveldailymedia.com