With three of the world's most sought-after hotel brands, the mid-market Specialty Select Brand group of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is forecasting fast-paced global growth from the 18th annual Lodging Conference in sunny Phoenix, Arizona.
Starwood's select-service portfolio, which includes Aloft, Element and Four Points by Sheraton, is expected to open its milestone 250th hotel in early 2013,
with 10 more hotels scheduled to open over the next four months. In North America alone, Starwood will bring its Specialty Select group to more than 170 hotels by the end of the year will reach a milestone 175 hotels in January of 2013. Starwood's mid-market portfolio has grown over 50 percent since Q1 of 2009 reflecting its worldwide appeal.
"Aloft, Element, and Four Points continue to exceed expectations of our guests and our partners, and demand for the brands worldwide reflects their appeal," said Simon Turner, President of Global Development for Starwood. "All three Specialty Select brands enjoy loyal and growing fan bases, and continue to attract broad new segments of global travelers. And for developers in a huge range of markets, the popularity and positioning of the brands, combined with flexible development options and cost efficient operating models, make them highly sought after." To keep up with global demand, Starwood brands like Aloft and Four Points are also leveraging conversions and adaptive reuse opportunities as additional growth channels.
With over 1,100 Starwood properties now open in nearly 100 countries, Starwood's mid-market brands are a significant part of Starwood's growth momentum: