Sheraton to lead China growth for Starwood
30 March 2011
Starwood is to open 16 new hotels under its Sheraton brand this year in China.
The company said Starwood plans to open new hotels under Sheraton, its largest brand, in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou this year.
It plans to open 25 new Sheraton hotels this year in total.
Sheraton will lead Starwood’s future global expansion, the company said.
"Sheraton is the number one contributor to Starwood's global growth and has given us a significant lead in many fast-developing markets," said Simon Turner, President of Global Development for Starwood. "In China, which is now Starwood's second largest market after North America, Sheraton is expanding its presence in the country's biggest cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, as well as in rapidly developing urban centers including Guangzhou, Wanning and Hangzhou. The strength of Sheraton is also driving meaningful growth for sister brand Four Points by Sheraton, which is set to double its footprint in China over the next three years."
Sheraton will open its fourth hotel in Shanghai, its second in Beijing and its first two hotels in Guangzhou during 2011, taking its portfolio in China to 53 by the end of the year.
Sheraton also accounts for 50% of the Starwood hotels under development in China, in line with Starwood’s goal of operating 100 hotels in China by the end of 2012.
"Sheraton has leveraged its first-mover advantage in China, where we are now one of the country's strongest global brands and the engine of Starwood's growth," said Hoyt Harper, global brand leader for Sheraton Hotels & Resorts. "Our recent brand-wide revitalization and significant investment in new hotel development has also fueled our expansion in many other key markets, including India, Japan and South Korea."
