Starwood Hotels & Resorts plans to open 25 hotels throughout Europe over the next four years. The company, which has already unveiled W Paris – Opera and Le Meridien in Istanbul this year, is targeting fast-growing markets. “Even against a backdrop of uncertainty, Starwood’s pipeline of both managed and franchised deals for all nine brands in Europe is healthy and expected to grow in 2012,” says Simon Turner, president of global development for Starwood. “Eastern and Central Europe are particularly fertile ground for growth, primarily with new-build properties, while we see numerous ongoing conversion opportunities in established markets throughout Europe.”
Starwood will double its portfolio in Russia and Ukraine by 2014 with openings in Moscow, Rostov-on-Don, Perm, and Kiev. In Turkey, the hotelier is expanding its pipeline with four new hotels opening in a three-year period. Additionally, the W brand will fly flags in Milan and Switzerland, the latter of which will be W’s first ski resort.
