Starwood eyes 100 ME hotels by 2020

Starwood's newest hotel signings in the region include a Luxury Collection Hotel and Le Méridien in Lusail, Qatar.

From the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference in Dubai, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide on Wednesday announced that it is on track to grow its portfolio in the Middle East to 100 hotels by 2020.
This follows five new deal signings that will add over 1,200 rooms in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Starwood will also open five hotels in 2016 across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
"The Middle East continues to be one of Starwood's fastest growing markets and we are immensely committed to the trust that owners have in our world-class brands," said Michael Wale, president of Starwood, Europe, Africa and Middle East. "Our long-established presence in the region, and the value we deliver, has set us ahead to further expand our footprint and strengthen our guest loyalty."
"We continue to strengthen Starwood's leadership position in the Middle East through an aggressive growth strategy that will increase our footprint by 75 per cent in the next five years," said Simon Turner, president of global development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. "Our flexible development approach, differentiated brands, loyal customer base and proven ability to drive asset value has made Starwood the ideal partner for developers in the region."
Starwood's newest hotel signings in the region include a Luxury Collection Hotel and Le Méridien in Lusail, Qatar. These signings come on the heels of Starwood's Europe, Africa and Middle East leadership conference in March in Doha, where the company operates some of the capital's most iconic hotels. Starwood will double its current portfolio in Qatar and diversify its brand presence when these two hotels open in Lusail by the end of 2018.
Owned by United Developers Company, the two hotels will add 650 rooms in Qatar's city of the future that will host the 2022 Fifa World Cup's opening and closing ceremonies.
The Luxury Collection hotel will mark the entry of the brand into Qatar, offering global explorers a unique gateway to this visionary destination. The Le Méridien hotel will be the second property from the Parisian-born brand in Qatar and will feature signature features such as Le Méridien Hub, an innovative reinterpretation of the traditional hotel lobby.
Scheduled to open in 2020, the Four Points by Sheraton Jeddah will be the first Four Points to open in the city. Starwood will make its entry into Unaizah in Saudi Arabia with the signing of Four Points by Sheraton Unaizah. Signed with Unaizah Investment Company, the hotel will open in 2020 and feature an urban-resort feel attracting leisure and business travellers with its 130 rooms including chalets and villas, health and recreation facilities with multiple swimming pools, a spa and nearly 9,000 sqft of meeting space.
Starwood continues to expand its footprint in the UAE with its first hotel in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. Signed with Hamarain Real Estate, Four Points by Sheraton Ras Al Khaimah will offer 300 rooms and serviced apartments and four food and beverage outlets when it opens in 2019. The signing underlines Ras Al Khaimah's plan to enhance the destination and diversify its hotel portfolio.
All three Four Points by Sheraton properties will reflect the brand's promise to provide what matters most to today's independent travellers, the hotel will offer all of the brand's defining touches, including the signature Four Comfort bed and complimentary bottled water, free Wi-Fi in all public areas, an energising breakfast, the brand's signature Best Brews programme, as well as food and beverage outlets.
"The new deal signings represent the immense development opportunities this region continues to offer for our 10 distinct lifestyle brands in established and fast-growing markets," said Neil George, senior vice-president for acquisition and development at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Africa and Middle East. "In particular, our mid-markets brands continue to capitalise on the strong demand for affordable hospitality in the region and we also continue to see steady growth across our luxury and upper-upscale brands, allowing us to strengthen and diversify our brand portfolio in the Middle East."
- business@khaleejtimes.com