Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. expects to open another 80 to 100 high quality new-build and conversion hotels in 2010, coming off of the 83 opened and 77 new deals signed in 2009. Of these new hotels, roughly 70% will be outside North America, with the majority in Asia Pacific.  |  |  |  |
And Starwood's upper upscale and luxury brands are leading the charge, representing more than 60% of the new openings. Among these hotels and resorts is expected to be its 1,000th property globally.
To meet the growing demand for high quality lodging in China, Starwood plans to double its portfolio there to 100 hotels by 2012. In 2010, Starwood is slated to open approximately 30 hotels in the market, including both The Luxury Collection and W brands' first hotels in mainland China. The St. Regis, Westin, Le Meridien and Four Points by Sheraton brands will also increase their Chinese presence in 2010, while the Sheraton brand is experiencing the most robust growth and represents half the year's total openings.
Growth is also fertile in India, where Starwood has already opened 25 hotels and plans to increase its portfolio roughly 60% by the end of 2012. Starwood's steady expansion in India is fueled by several of its brands including Westin, which will open two new hotels this year. And last year's debut of the Four Points by Sheraton brand in India will soon be followed by the upcoming launch of the Aloft brand, which is set to open three hotels there by the end of 2010.
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