Starwood Hotels & Resorts has announced plans to double its portfolio of W Hotels in Asia Pacific, expanding to 20 properties by the end of 2018.
The brand was recently launched in Singapore and Bangkok, and will soon be rolled out in other key Asian gateway cities, including Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai and Beijing.
“The growth spurt of W Hotels in Asia Pacific reflects a significant growth in demand for stylish luxury brands,” said Stephen Ho, Starwood’s president for Asia Pacific. “In addition, we believe W Hotels’ reinterpretation of luxury is what contributes to the brand’s success. W Hotels have now become a landmark and symbol of transformation in key cities and premier resorts across Asia Pacific.”
The W brand first entered Asia in 2004 with the opening of W Seoul Walkerhill. Since then, it has moved into Bali, Taipei, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore and the Maldives.
Next to open will be the W Guangzhou Hotel & Residences, which will offer 317 when it launches on 31 March 2013. Next year will see the addition of three more W Hotels in China – the 340-room W Beijing, 330-room W Changsha and the 600-room W Shanghai The Bund. Then 2015 will see the brand’s introduction to India, with the opening of the 105-room W Retreat & Spa Goa and 325-room W Mumbai.
The 581-room W Noida Delhi NCR will follow in 2016, along with the 300-room W Jakarta and 150-room W Kuala Lumpur. Finally in 2017, the brand will continue to expand in China and India, with the launch of the 225-room W Delhi NCR Gurgaon and 366-room W Suzhou.