Starwood Hotels & Resorts expects to open between 80 and 100 new-build and conversion hotels in 2010. Last year, the hotelier launched 83 hotels and signed 77 new deals. About 70 percent of the debuts will be outside of North America, with the majority in Asia Pacific. Starwood's upper upscale and luxury brands are leading the charge, representing more than 60 percent of the new openings. In addition, the company expects to open its 1,000th property this year.
 
Starwood plans to double its portfolio in China to 100 hotels by 2012. In 2010, the company is slated to open approximately 30 hotels in the market, including both the Luxury Collection and W brand's first hotels in the mainland. The St. Regis, Westin, Le Meridien and Four Points by Sheraton brands will also increase their Chinese presence in 2010, while the Sheraton brand is experiencing the most robust growth and represents half the year's total openings.

"China is expected to be one of the world's largest outbound tourism markets by 2020, with a predicted 100 million outbound trips a year," says Simon Turner, president of global development for Starwood, in a statement. "As the Chinese travel, they are going to stay with the brands they know from home, which will have a meaningful effect on our business globally and underscores our focus there."

Starwood also has its sights on India, where 25 hotels are already open. The company's portfolio is expected to increase in the country by roughly 60 percent by 2012. This year, two hotels will fly the Westin flag, while the aloft brand is set to open three hotels by year's end.

In North America, which represents half of Starwood's current portfolio, the company is slated to open approximately 30 hotels in 2010. Among properties are aloft Brooklyn, New York; Element New York-Times Square; Sheraton Tribeca New York; and St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico.

Building on the 244 existing Starwood properties in Europe, Africa, and Middle East, Starwood and its development partners are scheduled to open approximately a dozen more in the division, including Europe's first aloft. The St. Regis Mauritius Resort, which is on track to open this fall, is a conversion property, and will be the company's fourth hotel on the island nation.

In Latin America, Starwood is poised for expansion. In 2010, Starwood will debut the Westin brand in Peru—the Westin Libertador, Lima—and open the country's second property under the Luxury Collection brand, Tambo Del Inka. The Westin brand will also open its fifth hotel in Mexico and its first in Mexico City with the Westin Santa Fe.

--Nielsen Business Media