Hotel Talk

Starwood to double its Middle East portfolio in 3-5 yrs

Chetan Kapoor - Dubai

Ahmed Baki Regional director of sales and marketing, Middle East, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, which currently has 50 properties in the Middle East, plans to double its portfolio in the next three to five years. Speaking at the Travel Agents Association of India - Western Region meet in Dubai this June, Ahmed Baki, its regional director (Sales & Marketing) for Middle East, said, "The region has been very dynamic for us. We have aggressive plans in the pipeline which will see us doubling our portfolio in the next three to five years. Looking at the deals that we have announced, this will not be impossible."

The chain already has 16 hotels in the pipeline. It recently inaugurated two hotels in Dubai - the 390-room Four Points by Sheraton on Sheikh Zayed Road and Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi. It has just announced the signing of another Westin in Abu Dhabi - the Westin Hotel, Golf & Spa - located adjacent to the Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Moreover, the St Regis brand debuts in UAE with its St Regis Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi - a 380-room hotel scheduled for completion in 2010.

The 300-room Luxury Collection Ras Al Khaimah is due for completion by 2011 while aloft Abu Dhabi will debut in 2010. W Doha will open this September thereby introducing the brand in the Middle East. Two W properties in Dubai - one in Festival City and the other on Palm Jumeirah - are scheduled to open by late 2010. "Jordan is yet another exciting destination with lots to offer. Currently, we have two hotels operating with three more in the pipeline. In 2009, we will see the opening of The Westin Aqaba and the Luxury Collection Al Manara Hotel in Aqaba. These are exciting times for us and give us immense opportunities to work closely with the travel trade," he added.