STAMFORD, Conn. — Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is celebrating a year of growth with news it opened 74 new hotels in 2014, representing approximately 15,000 rooms in 26 countries; it’s also recorded a 15-per-cent increase in new hotel management and franchise agreements.
“With more than 1,200 hotels in 100 countries, we’re on the frontlines of global change and continue to see increasing demand for innovative, design-led brands, playing to Starwood’s strength,” said Frits van Paasschen, president, CEO of the Stamford, Conn.-based Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “Our nine lifestyle brands continue to attract owners as does our loyalty program, Starwood Preferred Guest, which brings high-value guests to our hotels from around the world, driving more than half of our occupancy on any given night.”
In 2015, Starwoods will celebrate its 300th hotel in Asia-Pacific and China; its 90th hotel in Africa and the Middle East; its 175th luxury hotel; its 75th upper-upscale hotel; and its 300th mid-market hotel worldwide.
Starwood’s Specialty Select Brands account for 35 of the new openings, and its Aloft, Element and Four Points by Sheraton brands account for almost half of the company’s overall new hotel openings in 2015.
