From the International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) in Berlin, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc (NYSE: HOT) announces today the opening of W Doha Hotel & Residences in Qatar – marking the entrance of W Hotels in the Middle East. W Doha is illustrative of Starwood’s market leading growth around the world as the company plans to open between 80 and 100 hotels this year, including its 1,000th property.
With a focus on working with the right partners on the right properties in the right places, Starwood remains on track to increase its global portfolio by 40 per cent over the next five years. As part of its global expansion, the company plans to open 50 new hotels in Europe, Africa and the Middle East (EAME) by 2012. By working closely with its proven development partners, Starwood is able to open these high caliber, best-in-class hotels around the world, even during challenging economic times.
Momentum in Central and Eastern Europe drives Starwood’s EAME pipeline and accounts for nearly half of all new projects. Particularly strong markets include Russia, Ukraine and other economies in Eastern Europe like Czech Republic and Hungary. Starwood currently operates 250 hotels in EAME, with 116 in Central, Eastern Europe, Italy and the Balkans.
There are 35 projects in development in these territories. The Middle East and North Africa also offer exciting growth opportunities, with multiple signings in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Libya, Madagascar and Mauritius in 2008 across all Starwood brands. At the same time the company continues to expand opportunistically in established, high-profile destinations such as London, Paris, Barcelona and Milan.
W is a key contributor to the company’s growth in EAME. Since 2007, Starwood signed nine deals to open W Hotels in the region, in vibrant primary destinations such as Milan, St Petersburg and Amman, and most recently adding Marrakech, London, Manchester and Paris to its pipeline. In 2009 alone, Starwood expects to open 11 W Hotels around the world, including W Barcelona – a 473-room waterfront hotel scheduled to open in autumn 2009. The hotel follows the W Istanbul as the brand’s second open hotel in Europe and its first in Spain and the Mediterranean.
“W began as a New York wonder, grew to be an American phenomenon and is now becoming a global powerhouse in the design-driven luxury space with 10 years of proven success,” said Frits van Paasschen, chief executive officer of Starwood. “With plans to nearly triple its footprint of 27 hotels by 2011, W has the strongest growth momentum of any luxury hotel brand in the most sought after markets in Europe and the world.”
“We are proud to play such an important part in the W brand’s growth success story and in the growth of Starwood’s other brands,” says Roeland Vos, President, Starwood Hotels and Resorts EAME. “Our division represents a crucial part of Starwood Hotels and Resorts’ future pipeline of more than 400 hotels. We are making landmark entries into key destinations.”
The Westin Dragonara Resort was the first Westin that Starwood Hotels and Resorts launched in Europe, making this a significant achievement for the Maltese islands and for the Westin brand.