Starwood to open two new hotels in India

NEW HOTELS: Starwood signs Two New Westin Hotels in India Starwood Hotels & Resorts is to manage two new Westin hotels in India - The Westin Bangalore and The Westin Sohna Resort scheduled to open in 2009 and December 2006 respectively. Starwood also recently signed for a new Westin in Gurgaon, New Delhi.

With the signing of The Westin Bangalore and The Westin Sohna Resort, Starwood now has 21 hotels and resorts in operation and under development in India under its Westin, Sheraton, and Le Meridien brands.

"We are delighted to bring the Westin name to these two choice locations in India. The signing of these two Westins in a key gateway city like Bangalore, and a resort destination like Sohna just outside of Delhi helps to further strengthen the brand's presence in India as well as to drive awareness of the brand from New Delhi to Bangalore and eventually to other commercial centers and resort markets in India,"said Miguel Ko, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia-Pacific.

"Recent research shows that India is the fastest-growing Asia Pacific market for international tourist spending. Tourism in India grew by 25% alone in the last quarter of 2005.