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Starwood, the largest hospitality player, is also keen to bring in its premium seven-star brands - St Regis and the funky W - Mr Martin Wuethrich, General Manager, Sheraton Bangalore at Brigade Gateway, told Business Line.
ITC was a long-term partner for the luxury brands in the country. Brigade Enterprises, which is building the first green field property to be managed as Sheraton in Bangalore, was now another anchor, Mr Wuethrich said.
“We are looking at 5-8 anchor partners in India who would build to the [Starwood brand] specifications. We are also looking at different locations.”
Brigade had tied up to build a second Sheraton hotel, this one in Mysore, which would be ready in 2013. The real estate major was interested to explore different brands such as Le Méridien, Four Points, and more recently, Aloft and Westin
Starwood's cream brand W, targeted at the young traveller, would fit into a “happening” place such as Bangalore while St Regis would make more sense in Delhi or Mumbai, he said.
At present, 29 hotels used Starwood brands, among them ITC and Le Méridien, either as franchises or managed property. Starwoods will gradually increase the managed segment, Mr Wuethrich said. It has firmed up most of its nine brands that include Westin, Four Points and Aloft in this second big growth market, though the Element brand is yet to enter.
The Sheraton Bangalore at Brigade Gateway is a 239-key newly-built hotel that is due to open on March 1 next year. The managed property is coming up on the 40-acre, Rs 1,000-crore Brigade Gateway integrated enclave next to the Brigade real estate group's World Trade Centre.
In Bangalore, Starwood already has four hotels - Le Méridien; ITC-run Windsor Manor Sheraton and Gardenia; besides Aloft Whitefield – drawing level with the Tata groups' IHL, in terms of number. When the Sheraton at Brigade Gateway opens, Starwood will be one up, with the largest presence among hospitality majors in the city.
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