Starwood to Open Six Hotels in South America in 2011

Starwood is accelerating its growth in South America with six new hotels to open in 2011, resulting in a portfolio of nearly 70 hotels in 13 countries by year's end.

This week, Starwood President and CEO Frits van Paasschen, President of Global Development Simon Turner, Chief Brand Officer Phil McAveety and several other senior Starwood executives head to South America to discuss future hotel development with owners and developers in five countries, including three of its fastest growing markets - Brazil, Panama and Peru.

Osvaldo Librizzi, President of Starwood's South America division, said, "We are capturing more than our fair share of this fertile market and expect even more hotel deals to follow this week's visit. Of particular interest is Brazil, where a flurry of hotel development is expected in the run-up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics."

Starwood's growth leader in South America is Westin Hotels, which will increase its portfolio by 50% in the region with the opening of four new hotels this year. Westin will make its landmark debut in three countries: Peru, Panama and Costa Rica, where it will also open its first all-inclusive resort - The Westin Playa Conchal Resort & Spa. The Westin Guadalajara will open in August in Mexico's second largest city, following the recent opening of The Westin Santa Fe.

Starwood will debut its Aloft brand in South America in 2011 with the opening of Aloft Bogota Airport. Another milestone is this year's opening of the tenth Luxury Collection hotel in South America - Villarica Park Lake Hotel & Spa in the volcanic region of southern Chile, which joins the two Luxury Collection Hotels opened in Peru in 2010 - Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa strategically located near Machu Pichu, and Hotel Paracas, a Luxury Collection Resort on the Pacific Coast. The St. Regis brand also continues to grow in South America with The St. Regis Buenos Aires scheduled to break ground in 2011, following the recently opened St. Regis Mexico City.

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