 GLOBAL hotel giant Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced recently that its global powerhouse Sheraton Hotels will be a key force in the company’s growth in 2012 with the opening of 20 new hotels. Sheraton will also widen Starwood’s lead as the largest global hotel operator in China, with 12 new Sheraton hotels slated to open across this fast-growing market by year’s end driven by strong demand in second- and third-tier cities. In North America and Europe, Sheraton expects to grow its portfolio by capturing more than its fair share of conversion opportunities. “Sheraton’s impressive global pipeline is being fueled by phenomenal demand in China and India as well as by a surge in high-quality conversions in developed markets,” said Simon Turner, president of global development for Starwood. Sheraton will open 12 new hotels across China in 2012, reaching a total of nearly 80 hotels in the country by 2015. Nearly 40 percent of all future Starwood hotels opening in China will fly the Sheraton flag, building on the brand’s 30-year legacy in the fast-growing market. The Sheraton brand’s rapid growth is also moving Starwood closer to its goal of opening its 100th hotel in China later this year. The iconic brand will mark a milestone later this year with the opening of the nearly 4,000-room Sheraton Macao, which will be the largest Sheraton, as well as the largest Starwood hotel in the world. It is a highly anticipated addition to Cotai Strip, also known as the “Las Vegas of Asia.” Sheraton will expand its global resorts portfolio in 2012 with the opening of new resorts in sought-after locations. The development boom in China has fueled a surge of new Sheraton resort openings throughout China in locations like Huzhou, Changbaishan and Xiangshan. Sheraton will also open its second resort in Huizhou. Starwood has spent the last few years renovating and rebuilding one of the hotel industry’s most iconic brands and Sheraton now stands better than ever with the strongest portfolio in its history. (Maggie Tang) | 