Adding even more muscle to its portfolio in China, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced that its iconic Sheraton(R) brand will open five more hotels in China before the end of year. In addition to these new openings, seven new Sheraton hotels and resorts debuted in the region this year in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Zhenjiang, Hainan and Jinzhou. With the addition of these 12 hotels, Sheraton will grow its portfolio to 46 hotels in Greater China by year’s end, moving Starwood closer to its goal of operating 100 hotels in Greater China by the end of 2012.
In the next two years, nearly half of all new Starwood hotels slated to open in China will fly the Sheraton flag. This fall, Sheraton will open its first hotel in Hangzhou and Daqing, its second hotel in Xian and two hotels in Changzhou. This surge in new hotel openings will grow the Sheraton brand’s footprint not only in China’s largest and most established cities, but also in many of the country’s fast-growing metropolises and resort destinations.
“Sheraton has leveraged its first-mover advantage in China, where we are now one of the country’s strongest global brands and the engine of Starwood’s growth,” said Hoyt Harper, global brand leader for Sheraton Hotels & Resorts. “Sheraton is focused on meeting the needs of Chinese travelers within China, as well as across our portfolio of more than 400 hotels around the world.”
China will play an outsized role in global travel over the next decade, with 100 million outbound travelers expected by 2015. China also continues to be the richest source of new loyal travelers for Starwood, as evidenced by the 71% jump in Chinese enrollment in Starwood Preferred Guest(R) last year. Starwood’s first-mover advantage in China dates back to 1985 with the landmark debut of The Great Wall Sheraton Hotel in Beijing, the first international branded hotel in China.
“The rich legacy of the Sheraton brand in China has given Starwood a considerable head start in this fertile market, where we now have nearly 100 hotels in development,” said Miguel Ko, Chairman and President of Starwood’s Asia-Pacific Division. “We are thrilled with the robust expansion as four more Sheraton hotels open throughout China with many more expected in 2012. We continue to expand our established upper upscale brands in emerging markets and as the Chinese pick up their pace of travel, they are going to stay with the brands they know and love.”
Sheraton Hangzhou Wetland Park Resort – Hangzhou
Offering stunning and serene views and luxurious rooms, the Sheraton Hangzhou Westland Park Resort will be located in the beautiful Xixi National Wetland Park.
Sheraton Changzhou Wujin Hotel – Changzhou
Conveniently located in the Wujin District, the Sheraton Changzhou Wujin will provide guests with easy access to shopping and business areas. The 317-room hotel will be situated just next to the popular China Spring & Autumn Yancheng Tourist Area.
Sheraton Changzhou Xinbei Hotel – Changzhou
Sheraton Changzhou Xinbei Hotel will open in Xinbei District, Changzhou’s new development zone. The 247-room hotel will be part of the Changzhou Wanda Plaza while retail shopping and numerous entertainment options are mere steps away. The hotel will be just 10 minutes drive from Changzhou Railway Station and 30 minutes from Changzhou Benniu Airport (CZX).
Sheraton Xian North City Hotel – Xian
Close to Xian Daming Palace National Heritage Park and North Gate of the city wall, the Sheraton Xian North City Hotel will offer 490 beautifully appointed guest rooms and 18,300 square feet of flexible meeting space including a 6,750 square foot pillar-less Grand Ballroom. The hotel will also be located within easy access to corporate and municipal government offices and just 30 minutes away from Xian Xianyang International Airport (XIY).
Sheraton Daqing Hotel – Daqing
The Sheraton Daqing Hotel will debut in the central Saertu Commercial District of Daqing, Heilongjiang – China’s northernmost province. While Daqing is a city of vast meadows, the hotel will be is situated centrally poised in the city centre across the road from Daqing City Hall and part of the Daqing Saertu Wanda Plaza, where shopping and entertainment abound. The hotel will also be located next to Airport Express Road, making the ride to Daqing Saertu Airport (DQA) a quick 20-minute trip.
Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, like all brands within Starwood’s robust portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred Guest(R) program, which made headlines when it launched in 1999 with a breakthrough policy of no blackout dates on Free Night Awards. SPG(R) offers members the ability to redeem awards at more resorts, more luxury properties, more European hotels and more golf properties than any other hotel program.
