Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. says it will continue to expand its upper upscale and luxury brands in order to meet high demand.
The company says it expects another year of sustained growth for Sheraton, Westin, and Le Méridien upper upscale hotels as well as its luxury brands under St. Regis, W Hotels and Luxury Collection.
Allison Reid, senior vice president of North America development for Starwood, said the ongoing economic recovery and increased availability of financing created a surge in demand for new-build hotels.
After Le Méridien’s openings in Charlotte, Indianapolis, New Orleans and the greater Chicago area last year, the hotel will debut its new Columbus, Ohio, location in 2015. Westin will also be opening locations in Jekyll Island, GA; Austin TX; Denver, CO; and San Jose, CA this year.
Sheraton, Starwood’s largest development pipeline, will add four new hotels to its North American portfolio in the next two years. It is set to break ground in Georgetown, TX, and open new hotels in McKinney, TX, and Mesa, AZ.
Starwood also owns more than 50 luxury hotels under its St. Regis, W Hotels and Luxury Collection brands.
Following the complete renovation of its New York location, St. Regis will unveil the renovations made to its Monarch Beach resort later this year. The Luxury Collection will also be opening The St. Anthony Hotel in San Antonio.
W hotels will continue to renovate its Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, Montreal, Seattle, San Francisco, South Beach and Times Square, New York locations.
Simon Turner, president of global development for Starwood, says North America will continue to remain one of the company’s most important global markets.
Starwood will open the St. Regis Venice San Clemente Palace in April on St. Regis San Clemente Island. Last year, Starwood signed an agreement with the Turkish group Permak (owners of the private island) to take over management of the five-star San Clemente Palace Resort. Following a multi-million-dollar renovation which started last October, the resort will reopen as a St. Regis on the historic island that was first settled in 1131. Reservations are currently being made for April 1, 2015 and beyond.