Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has recently announced plans to expand its hotel portfolio in Mexico by 30 percent, emphasizing the important role the country plays in Starwood’s Americas growth strategy and its prominence in the global travel market. Starwood continues to lengthen its lead as the largest operator in the upper-upscale hotel segment in Mexico with eight new hotels in its development pipeline that will add nearly 1,100 rooms. Mexico is Starwood’s largest market in Latin America with 24 hotels and a total of 4,800 rooms, representing eight of the company’s nine brands including the recently launched Aloft brand, which made it s debut in Cancun. Leading Luxury Footprint
Starwood currently has eight luxury hotels in Mexico, more than in any other Latin American market between its St. Regis, W and The Luxury Collection brands, and the company will expand its luxury portfolio in the country by 50 percent over the next three years to meet increasing demand. Hotels under development include:
• W Santa Fe located in the desirable Santa Fe business district with spectacular views of the Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl volcanoes.
• W Retreat Kanai Riviera Maya nestled on the eastern coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula; the first W resort in the region.
• The St. Regis Kanai Riviera Maya, which will bring the brand’s bespoke style of luxury to the resort area and represent the brand’s third hotel in Latin America, joining St. Regis Mexico City and St. Regis Punta Mita.
• Frida Kahlo® Guadalajara, A Luxury Collection hotel in Guadalajara, marking the brand’s entry into this growing city.
Growth Across Portfolio
“Starwood is ideally positioned to take advantage of positive trends given our robust and growing footprint in Mexico where we have been present for more than 40 years,” said Osvaldo Librizzi, Co-President Starwood Hotels & Resorts Americas. “Mexico will continue to be a focal point of our expansion strategy in Latin America where we are on track to have 100 hotels in operation and development by the end of 2013.”
In the next three years, Starwood will open four specialty-select brand hotels, including two new Aloft hotels in Merida, Guadalajara and two Four Points by Sheraton hotels in Queretaro and Cancun.
SPG Partnership with Aeromexico Club Premier
As part of its commitment to deliver benefits beyond the guestroom to SPG members, Starwood also announces a global partnership with Aeromexico Club Premier, the frequent flyer program associated with Aeromexico, the national airline of Mexico. The new program, which launches on July 15th, will allow Club Premier Members to transfer points from their SPG account to their Club Premier accounts in order to convert them into Premier Kilometers.
