New hotel openings in the Asia Pacific region will drive the expansion of Starwood’s Le Méridien brand in 2013.
Of the nine new Le Méridien hotels opening worldwide over the next 12 months, six will be in the Asia Pacific region, with two openings in China, and others in Indonesia, India, Bangladesh and Vietnam.
The expansion will commence this week with the opening of Le Méridien Bali Jimbaran on 31 January, with the hotel including 118 rooms and several rooftop penthouses and private pool villas. Then in May 2013, the brand’s first new Chinese property, Le Méridien Zhengzhou, will open in the capital of Henan province, offering 350 rooms in a modern city centre building.
In June, Le Méridien Saigon will add 350 rooms next to the Saigon River in Ho Chi Minh City, and a month later in July, the 300-room Le Méridien Dhaka will mark the brand’s entry into Bangladesh.
Finally in October 2013, Le Méridien will launch two new Le Méridien properties; Le Méridien Jiaonan Resort, on the shores of the Yellow Sea in Qingdao, and Le Méridien Mahabaleshwar Resort & Spa, in hills of the Indian state of Maharashtra.
“Starwood is seeing increased interest in Le Méridien among owners, especially around conversions,” said Simon Turner, Starwood’s president of global development. “Le Méridien is benefiting from growing brand recognition and deal signing momentum around the world, and the brand’s long-established global presence remains a competitive advantage.”
Other new Le Méridien properties will launch this year in Atlanta, Chicago and Cairo.
Source: www.traveldailymedia.com