Aloft Hotels Eyes Global Expansion in 2010: Openings Includes Brussels, Bangalore - and Brooklyn

After a year of tremendous growth that made it one of the fastest and most successful hospitality industry launches ever, Aloft(R) Hotels this week announced expansion plans for key global markets from Brussels to Bangalore - and one of Aloft's first New York City properties, in downtown Brooklyn.

Aloft, the much-talked-about brand from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) is set to open ten new hotels in the coming year, with half of its 2010 pipeline consisting of international properties. With nearly 40 hotels open since its June 2008 debut, the Aloft brand became the talk of the hospitality industry by going global while in launch mode, opening China's Aloft Beijing Haidian and Aloft Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates in the brand's first 15 months.

"The Aloft brand is an important source of fuel for Starwood's strategic, global expansion, with owners, developers and guests embracing the game-changing concept," said Simon Turner, President of Global Development. "The brand, which has an existing presence in four countries, is at a pivotal point in its growth cycle and is poised to continue to break new ground in 2010 as it debuts in India and Europe, while further establishing its presence in the U.S. and China."
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