Starwood Hotels & Resorts will relocate its global headquarters from the U.S. to India in March 2015 for a month-long immersion, with Starwood president and CEO Frits van Paasschen and the company’s top executives splitting their time between Mumbai and Delhi. Following the company’s relocations to China in 2011 and Dubai in 2013, this third leadership move underscores Starwood’s unique approach to cultivating a global culture and fostering relationships in key growth markets.
During the month, the team will travel to cities throughout India to meet with associates, customers, owners, and prospective developers, including Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, and Kochi, and also throughout South Asia to Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Maldives where Starwood is seeing new growth opportunities.
“Overall demand for hotels in India is growing and evolving as the domestic economy expands and international visitation increases,” says Simon Turner, Starwood’s president of global development. “Our well-established, distinctive brands and seasoned operating teams combined with our agile and flexible way of structuring management and franchise agreements are generating solid growth momentum. With our existing base of operations as a very solid foundation, we have a significant opportunity to continue to grow our footprint through both new-build and conversions across the luxury, upper upscale, and mid-market segments in gateway cities and tier two markets as well as in resort destinations.”
With new travel patterns and increasing interconnectivity, South Asia has emerged as the world’s second fastest growing market for inbound tourist arrivals. To meet growing demand, Starwood has signed seven deals this year in key cities across India including in Ahmedabad, Aurangabad, Pimpri Pune, and Delhi National Capital Region, as well as in other parts of South Asia. – See more at: https://hospitalitydesign.com/news/business/Starwood-to-Relocate-11324.shtml#sthash.nYUepgbJ.dpuf
