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Dubai: Starwood Hotels and Resorts, one of the leading global hotel chains, said it is negotiating 60 new hotel management contracts in the Middle East in a major regional expansion.
If these deals are concluded, it would significantly expand the company's presence in the region, which is in the midst of an unprecedented tourism infrastructure building boom.
Roeland Vos, the group's president for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, said the talks were at an advanced stage.
"We are in serious negotiations with serious investors," he told Gulf News, adding that one-third of these new hotels will be in the UAE.
The group already operates 49 properties in 11 Arab countries with an inventory of 11,667 rooms. It has 19 hotels under construction that will create about 5,500 rooms.
"These properties will be opening within the next three years," Vos said.
More deals
He believes there is still room for building new hotels in the region as many countries have a short supply of tourist accommodation. Saudi Arabia is one of the countries where Starwood sees growing scope for hotel deals.
Vos said the group is promoting its nine brands, including Sheraton, Le Meridien and top-end W, in the Middle East to cater to a range of market segments.
The US-based hotel chain is growing aggressively outside North America, with China, India and the Middle East among its key markets.
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