Starwoodhas announced plans to open its 1,000th hotel in San Diego later this year adding to its portfolio of 940 properties in approximately 97 countries with 145,000 employees.

This comes as part of Starwood’s proposal to open 100 hotels this year throughout the world and the group is on track to expand its portfolio by 40% in the next five years.Starwood’s pipeline consists of more than 400 hotels, 60% of which currently are outside of the United States.

“By working closely with our development partners, we are able to open high caliber, best-in-class hotels around the world, even during challenging economic times,” said Simon Turner, President of Global Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

“Starwood is building, opening, converting, renovating and innovating for the recovery and beyond, and these new hotels will further position Starwood and its development partners for long term growth and success.”

Starwoods portfolio includes:

W Hotels - plans to triple its portfolio in the next three years.

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts - expected to open 18 hotels in high-profile destinations like New York City, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Istanbul, Turkey, Prague, Czech Republic; and Qiandao, China.

Westin Hotels & Resorts - expected to open 11 hotels including Montreal, Mumbai, Shanghai, Mexico City and Houston.

Aloft - plans to double its portfolio in 2009 with openings in Houston, Phoenix; and Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Element hotels - predicted to open five more hotels this year in U.S. markets such as Houston and Denver.

Four Points by Sheraton - continues to be a major growth vehicle for Starwood and is set to open nearly 30 hotels in 2009, including one in New York City’s Times Square; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Winnipeg, Canada, and its first new prototype, which is slated to be in San Antonio.

2009 began with St. Regis opening a new resort in Punta Mita, Mexico and an
additional four hotels. The brand also has properties in Atlanta; Park City, Utah; Mexico City; and Lhasa, China.
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