Starwood Hotels plans ambitious global expansion

Officials at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. headquarters in White Plains last week announced plans to expand its Sheraton Hotels & Resorts chain in what will be the most aggressive global move in the brand”™s history.

Starwood”™s largest and most international brand, Sheraton will open 54 hotels and add 20,000 guest rooms by 2009. The growth plan, which includes an investment of $2 billion in new hotel openings in North America, is part of a larger initiative to revitalize the iconic brand and differentiate the guest experience at its 406 hotels and resorts in 71 countries.

In 2008, Sheraton will open one hotel every 12 days in cities and regions around the world including Dallas, Texas, Denver, Colo., Minneapolis, Minn., Phoenix, Ariz., and metropolitan Washington, D.C. as well as in Ireland, Argentina, Egypt and China. The brand also will add two resorts in China and one in Carlsbad, Calif., bringing its collection to 63 resorts worldwide by the end of the year. In 2009, Sheraton will expand in New York City with plans to open two newly built properties in Brooklyn and Manhattan”™s Tribeca neighborhood.

“Sheraton is embarking on an aggressive and exciting growth plan unlike any in our storied history,” said Hoyt H. Harper II, senior vice president for Sheraton Hotels and Resorts. “Over the next several years, Sheraton”™s footprint will become even more prominent and, as we grow, we will leverage Starwood”™s proven history of building great lifestyle brands to enhance the entire guest experience. Sheraton is introducing unique offerings at every touch point of the guest stay, from the lobby, to the guest room, to the fitness center and meeting space.”

By the end of 2010, Sheraton will expand in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia and augment its portfolio by almost 70 properties, 30 of which will include spas. Sheraton hotels”™ scheduled openings span four continents and include Italy, Poland, Turkey, Vietnam, Russia and Taiwan. The growth plan includes more than half a dozen “big box” hotels of 1,000 or more rooms.

As part of its multi-year strategy, Sheraton also plans to invest $1.3 billion in renovations and $400 million in key brand initiatives to upgrade 100 hotels in the U.S., renovate 50,000 guestrooms in North America and redesign more than 100 lobbies.

Headquartered at 1111 Westchester Ave., Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 900 properties in more than 100 countries and 155,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Its brands also include St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Westin, Four Points by Sheraton, Le Meridien and the recently announced Aloft and Element hotels.