Starwood Hotels & Resorts continues expanding its North American portfolio and is set to surpass the 600th hotel milestone within the next two months.
“North America remains one of Starwood’s most important global markets, representing roughly half of our worldwide portfolio and about a third of our hotel openings in 2014. We expect strong growth to continue this year,” said Simon Turner, president of global development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. “The economic recovery and greater access to financing are creating favorable conditions. These factors have supported growth across all business segments and a notable surge in demand for new-build hotels, which comprised 81 percent of our North America signings in 2014.”
Starwood’s substantial collection of upper-upscale hotels—represented by Sheraton, Westin and Le Méridien—will keep expanding in North America. The company has signed agreements to open nine new properties in the region over the next three years. Following openings last year in Charlotte, Indianapolis, New Orleans and the greater Chicago area, Le Méridien will make its Columbus debut this year. Westin will reach its 125th North American hotel milestone with upcoming openings on Jekyll Island, Ga.; in Austin, Texas; Denver, Colo.; and San José, Calif. Sheraton will add four new hotels to its North American lineup.
In the luxury segment, St. Regis plans to unveil the renovated St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort later this year, while The Luxury Collection will introduce three new properties. W Hotels will roll out renovations at properties in Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, Montréal, Seattle, San Francisco, South Beach and Times Square in New York City.