The FINANCIAL -- From the American Lodging Investment Summit in Los Angeles, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced that building on a year of record growth and deal activity in 2011 it plans to open an additional 80 new hotels in 2012, following last year’s addition of 81 new hotels around the globe, according to Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.

Even against a backdrop of economic and geo-political uncertainty, 2011 was a record growth year for Starwood. Around the world, Starwood opened 21,000 new hotel rooms - the largest organic growth in its history. Importantly, the company also signed 112 new hotel deals, the highest number of new deals since before the global economic crisis.

Turning to 2012, more than 60% of Starwood’s new hotels will be in the luxury and upper upscale segment including the 30th St. Regis hotel, the 80th Luxury Collection hotel and the 45th W hotel. In just four years Starwood has grown its luxury room count by 75% and will celebrate its 150th luxury hotel milestone this year under its St. Regis, Luxury Collection and W Hotels brands. With more luxury hotels than even Four Seasons or Ritz Carlton, Starwood is well positioned to capitalize on wealth creation around the world which continues to fuel demand for luxury hotels.

Influenced by macro economic growth trends, nearly 75% of Starwood’s new hotels in 2012 will open outside North America, strengthening Starwood’s lead as the largest global hospitality company in Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. Starwood’s growing global portfolio will also enhance its stronghold in the world’s fastest growing markets. In fact, across all emerging markets, Starwood is now nearly the same size as Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt combined.

According to Turner, Starwood is also looking to “turbo charge” expansion of its Four Points by Sheraton and Aloft brands. Leveraging its longstanding tenure and teams in key global markets, it’s setting its sights on expanding its mid-market brands in secondary and tertiary markets around the globe where there is a long runway to grow reliable and affordable hospitality.

Accounting for 27% of the company’s global development pipeline, Starwood will open its 250th mid market hotel this year fueled by Four Points’s great global momentum, representing almost a quarter of Starwood’s openings and signings last year, as well as new brand Aloft, which launched global from the start, and just opened its 55th hotel. Driven by phenomenal demand, Starwood will open nearly 60% of its new hotels in Asia Pacific in 2012. The addition of nearly 50 new Starwood hotels will increase the company’s portfolio in the region to 250 hotels by year’s end.

China continues to lead Starwood’s growth in Asia Pacific, accounting for nearly 35 of Starwood’s new hotel openings this year. Starwood is set to open its 125th hotel in Greater China in 2012, fueled by the strength of its Sheraton and Westin brands and increasingly the momentum of Four Points and Aloft. More than one-third of Starwood’s new hotels in China will fly the Sheraton flag, building on the brand’s 30-year legacy in the country.

In addition, Westin Hotels will continue its global expansion with the opening of the brand’s 20th hotel in China. Starwood will open four new hotels in Indonesia this year, adding to its current portfolio of 12 properties. Future Starwood openings include the just signed W Jakarta and the Le Meridien Bali.

Other strong markets in Asia Pacific include Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Starwood will grow by nearly 50% in Malaysia in the next three years with plans to open another four hotels. In Thailand, Starwood has a robust footprint of 19 hotels, with another five openings planned by 2014. Starwood will also grow its footprint in Vietnam with the opening of Le Meridien Saigon, Starwood’s 4th hotel in Vietnam and its 2nd in Ho Chi Minh City.

Starwood is laying the groundwork for future hotel development in Brazil which is poised for a surge in tourism in the run-up to the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics. Starwood, through its Sheraton brand, has been established in Brazil since the 1970s and currently has six hotels there under its Sheraton and Four Points by Sheraton brands in popular destinations such as Rio, Sao Paulo and Porto Alegre. Starwood recently added Development resources in Brazil and launched its website in Portuguese. Starwood is also eyeing Africa as one of its next growth markets.

Starwood is already the largest global hotel company in Africa with nearly 40 hotels primarily across its Le Meridien and Sheraton brands. In 2012 Starwood will open the first St. Regis in the Africa region with the St. Regis Mauritius and at the other end of the spectrum Starwood sees the mid market segment as a particular opportunity for expansion.

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