Westin to open unit in Chennai, 200th hotel worldwide

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc, on February 4 announced that its Westin brand expects to open its 200th hotel in 2013, driven by robust international demand and the phenomenal success of the brand’s distinct well-being positioning. In India, the Westin brand will add one hotel to its portfolio this year – The Westin Chennai Velachery.

Westin will open 11 new hotels this year, the vast majority outside the United States in fast-growing markets including China, India, Singapore and Panama.

Brian Povinelli, Global Brand Leader, Westin Hotels & Resorts said that Westin is now experiencing the bulk of its growth in the world’s fastest growing economies, where it has emerged as a developer darling right out of the gate. In line with global growth trends, the Westin brand is experiencing a surge in new hotel openings across Asia Pacific.

Seven new Westin hotels will open in Asia Pacific in 2013, increasing the brand’s portfolio to nearly 50 hotels in the region by year’s end. Fueling the brand’s growth in the region is the rapid economic growth in China’s second and third-tier cities. New Westin hotel openings in China this year include The Westin Haikou, The Westin Sanya Haitang Bay Resort, The Westin Chongqing Liberation Square and The Westin Qingdao.

Westin will also make its return to Singapore with the opening of The Westin Singapore in late 2013.