Starwood Expands in India
In a significant vote of confidence for India’s burgeoning travel market, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is launching a major expansion of its mid-market brands in the country.
According to Starwood president and CEO Frits van Paasschen, India has actually been “under-hoteled,” with just 100,000 total hotel rooms; while New York City alone has about 80,000 rooms. “When you consider the growth of India’s middle class, the incredible expansion of outsourcing, the country’s rising affluence, and a plugged-in younger generation with a thirst for international brands, it’s easy to see why we’re eager to deepen our roots here.”
In fact, India’s Tourism Secretary Sujith Banerjee said that India needs 150,000 hotel rooms over the next three years as the tourism industry revives, according to a Reuters report on April 8, 2010.
Aloft debuted in India this year with three properties planned for 2010 alone. Aimed at Generation Y, Aloft is Starwood’s design-led, social-experience brand. By 2012, Aloft expects to operate six hotels in India. Aloft Chennai, Aloft Bengaluru-Whitefield (Bangalore), and Aloft Coimbatore Singanallur are all scheduled to debut in 2010. Next year, Starwood will continue Aloft’s expansion with the opening of Aloft Ahmedabad, Aloft Chandigarh Zirakpur, and a second Bangalore hotel, Aloft Bengaluru-Cessna Business Park.
Four Points by Sheraton opened its first two India properties in 2009: Four Points by Sheraton Navi Mumbai, Vashi; and Four Points by Sheraton, Jaipur City Square.
All Aloft and Four Points by Sheraton properties in India will be new builds, adding thousands of new hotel rooms to India’s tourism infrastructure, said Starwood’s van Paasschen.
Starwood’s involvement in India began in 1973 when its first Sheraton hotel opened in Mumbai. The company now has 26 hotels in India under its Westin, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, The Luxury Collection and Le Méridien brands and is on track with plans to grow its existing India portfolio by 60% by 2012.
