Starwood to open 500 XYZ branded hotels
Starwood Hotels is to introduce a new lower-priced version of its W Hotels chain to target the lower end of the market with a more trendy hotel targeted at younger travellers, reported Reuters.
The new hotels, code-named “Project XYZ” by the company, will feature loft-like guest-rooms and landscaped outdoor space for socialising, the company said. Starwood plans to open more than 500 “XYZ” hotels by 2015, with the first scheduled to open in 2007.
XYZ will compete in the “limited service” hotel category with brands such as Hilton Garden Inn and Marriott’s Courtyard that offer services without amenities such as spas and room service.
“We are very optimistic this will be a footprint that will exceed 100 hotels over the next couple of years,” said Starwood CEO Steven Heyer. “I think it’s a massive market opportunity, I think it’s a growth opportunity.”
Starwood will spend about $85,000 to $90,000 per room on the project, Heyer said.
Phil Davies
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt