Starwood Hotels & Resorts mulls expansion in India

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, a New York based hospitality chain plans to expand in India by 60 per cent by 2013 through franchising. The company and its partners have 15 hotels under development in India. Of these 15, six are Aloft hotels, three of which are slated to open by this fiscal year.

The company began its legacy in India in 1973 by opening its first Sheraton brand in Mumbai. Since then, the company has grown its portfolio to 26 hotels under its Westin, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, The Luxury Collection and Le Méridien brands.

India is one of the most promising markets within Asia Pacific, with GDP estimates topping seven percent for the next two years and a consumer market expected to rank as the world's fifth largest by 2025. This makes the hotel market a fertile ground for the high-caliber lifestyle brands of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide to look forward to further establish its presence in India.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1000 properties in nearly 100 countries. It is a fully integrated owner, operator, and franchisor of hotels, resorts, and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), W(R), Westin(R), Le Méridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft(R).