Starwood's 100th Hotel in China.

(Image: sheraton-beijing.jpg )

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced its 100th hotel in China, with the signing of the Sheraton Beijing Dongcheng Hotel, a milestone in its aggressive growth in Greater China. As the first international hotel chain to enter China when the historic Great Wall Beijing Sheraton Hotel opened in 1985, Starwood is the largest international upscale hotel company in China. It continues to grow its footprint there with the expansion of all its brands including Sheraton, Westin, Le Meridien, Sheraton, St Regis, Luxury Collection, aloft, Four Points by Sheraton and W hotels in established and emerging cities as well as resort destinations. "With strong domestic demand, an increasing affinity for global brands and international inbound travel on the rise, our opportunity in China is perhaps unsurpassed anywhere in the world," said Simon Turner, president, global development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts. "What's more, by 2020, China will generate over 100 million outbound trips a year, more than triple its current output, making it one of the largest origins of outbound travel in the world. As the Chinese travel abroad, they look for brands they know, and therefore Starwood's development in China today, has significant implications for our hotels worldwide." A dominant player in the upper upscale and luxury hotel market in China, Starwood is poised to grow in other segments as well, and the company will debut its new select service brand, aloft, in China this month with the opening of the aloft Beijing, Haidian. Designed with the DNA of W Hotels, aloft targets younger, style conscious consumers. "We expect healthy expansion as we launch aloft throughout China and continue to expand our established upper upscale and luxury brands in various Chinese cities where we are currently under penetrated," commented Miguel Ko, president of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Asia Pacific. "Starwood continues to win many new hotel projects in China and this is largely due to the confidence the development community has in our lifestyle brands, noted innovations and consistently strong delivery of results in the region." Sheraton Beijing Dongcheng Hotel will feature 470 rooms, approximately 36,000 square feet of meeting space, three restaurants and bar, a health club, spa and indoor heated swimming pool. The hotel is part of the final phase of the Global Trade Center (GTC) mixed use complex development. The complex comprises offices, retail shops, condominium, serviced apartments, and the hotel. Located in Dongcheng District, Sheraton Beijing Dongcheng Hotel is in the heart of Beijing transportation network near the Third Ring Road, and within close proximity to the 2008 Olympics venue, business and financial districts as well as Tiananmen Square. In addition to Sheraton Beijing Dongcheng Hotel, Starwood currently has 2 hotels under construction in Beijing: aloft Beijing Haidian and Four Points by Sheraton Beijing, Haidian; as well as 4 hotels in operation : Great Wall Sheraton Beijing, The Westin Beijing, Financial Street, The Westin Beijing, Chaoyang and St Regis Beijing.

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