Starwood Hotels & Resorts closed out 2014 on a strong note, opening 74 new properties that added roughly 15,000 rooms across 26 countries. The company also signed 175 new hotel management agreements, a 15 percent increase compared with the previous year.
“With more than 1,200 hotels in 100 countries, we’re on the frontlines of global change and continue to see increasing demand for innovative, design-led brands, playing to Starwood’s strength,” said Frits van Paasschen, president and CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “Our nine lifestyle brands continue to attract owners, and our loyalty program, Starwood Preferred Guest, brings high-value travelers to our hotels worldwide, accounting for more than half of our occupancy on any given night.”
Looking ahead, Starwood aims to keep expanding its global footprint and hit several key milestones: the 300th hotel in Asia Pacific; the 150th hotel in China, representing all nine brands; the 90th hotel in Africa and the Middle East; the 175th luxury hotel; the 750th upper-upscale hotel; and the 300th mid-market hotel. These targets reflect the company’s focus on balanced growth across regions and market segments, leveraging its diverse brand portfolio and loyalty program to drive demand and owner interest.