Starwood to have 100 hotels in India by 2015

Global hospitality chain Starwood Hotels and Resorts is on its way to open 100 hotels in India by 2015. It presently operates 40 hotels in India and has another 36 under development. The company has 1200 hotels in 100 countries.

On its expansion plans, Dilip Puri, Managing Director India and Regional Vice President South Asia, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, says, “Our goal is to have 100 hotels operating under development or management contracts signed by 2015. Currently, we have roughly 20 hotels through franchise route.” 

The company wants to further expand in tier-II and III cities as per growing demand in the near future. “We believe in the opportunities that lie in tier-II markets. Given the rapid pace of urbanisation in India, we believe that some of these tier-II cities and micro markets within larger markets can even take some of our upper upscale brands like Westin, Le Meridian and Sheraton. We have an added advantage to operate multiple hotels under different brands within the same city, as well as establish our footprint and grow in new emerging markets, micro markets and in tier-II and III cities,” Dilip Puri adds further.

Starwood is a fully integrated owner operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, and Element®. Starwood also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands.