Starwood Unveils Plans to Increase MEA Portfolio by More Than 60%

With an existing portfolio of 82 hotels, representing nearly 22,000 guest rooms in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, Starwood has unveiled plans to increase this by more than 60%, with nearly 50 new hotels set to open over the next five years, adding more than 14,000 guest rooms to the region while creating thousands of local employment opportunities.

With over 20 hotels expected to open by the end of 2015, Starwood is already on track to reach a milestone 100 hotels across MEA.

"Starwood continues to see demand for growth of all of our brands across the Middle East and Africa despite economic and political uncertainty in some parts of this incredibly diverse region," said Frits van Paasschen, President and CEO, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. "Rapid economic growth, rising personal incomes, a growing middle class and ever greater global connectivity are driving new travel patterns and demand for travel, and this region is at the center of these trends and a key focus of our growth strategy."

With more than 70% of the world's economic growth coming from fast-growing markets over the next few years, Starwood is focused on expansion in developing MEA markets such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Egypt, Senegal, South Africa and Nigeria. The company is also focused on growth opportunities in key emerging markets including Iraq, Pakistan, Angola, Ghana, the Ivory Coast and East Africa.

By 2017, Starwood will operate more than 130 hotels in MEA, marking some key milestones, including:

- Portfolio growth of over 60% in the UAE with 12 new hotels, including six in Dubai, bringing Starwood's portfolio to more than 30 hotels across the emirate. Starwood's growth plans in the UAE also include expansion into Sharjah and Ajman.

- Rapid expansion across Saudi Arabia with six new hotels slated to open by 2015 bringing Starwood's portfolio to 15 hotels in this key developing market.

- The re-entry of Starwood into Iraq with the milestone signings of three hotels across three brands in the city of Erbil, located in the re-emerging Kurdistan area of the country.

- Momentum in Nigeria with two new Starwood hotels, under the company's Four Points by Sheraton brand.

- Addition of two new hotels in Algeria with a new Sheraton hotel in Annaba and Four Points by Sheraton in Oran.

- The launch of Starwood's Aloft Hotels brand in Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Aloft will also open its second property in the UAE in the emirate of Sharjah.

Starwood Strengthens Luxury Portfolio

In 2011, Starwood introduced its ultra-luxury St. Regis Hotels & Resorts brand in the region with the opening of The St. Regis Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi. This was followed by last year's debuts of The St. Regis Doha and The St. Regis Mauritius, marking the entry of the brand into Qatar and Africa.

This year, Starwood will unveil a second St. Regis hotel on Abu Dhabi's vibrant Corniche, making it the only city in the world to boast two St. Regis hotels. The brand will soon enter the Egyptian market with the opening of The St. Regis Cairo.

Starwood is also seeing rapid growth of its contemporary, design-led W Hotels brand. Following the successful launch of the brand in the region with the opening of W Doha in 2009, Starwood has plans to open six more W Hotels across MEA in key markets, including three in Dubai and one each in Abu Dhabi, Muscat and Amman by 2017.

"Our long-established presence, local teams, and strong relationships in the region remain a competitive advantage, and position us well to take advantage of the many opportunities for future growth," said Simon Turner, President of Global Development & Acquisition, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. "We have a healthy pipeline of new hotels under development in the Middle East and Africa, and expect our growth to continue in 2013 as we look to expand in markets including the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria.

Conversion Opportunities in MEA

In addition to new hotel openings, Starwood is seeing increasing opportunities for hotel conversions in MEA.

In the past ten months, Starwood has signed three conversion deals in the region, including Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates, which opened last month.

"Thanks to Starwood's nearly 50-year history in the MEA region and the proven strength of our brands, the company is well positioned to take full advantage of growth," said Roeland Vos, President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa & Middle East. "We are seeing a large landscape of independent hotels ripe for flags in the region and we expect to capture more than our fair share of conversion opportunities across all of our brands. The recent conversion of the Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates is a testament of this strategy."

As Starwood continues its extensive expansion across MEA, the company is also focused on upgrading its existing portfolio of hotels in the region, primarily under the Sheraton and Le Méridien brands.