Starwood to open 4 hotels in Korea by 2019

[THE INVESTOR] International hotels and resort chain Starwood will open four more hotels in South Korea by 2019 including one in Jejudo, said Nichlas Maratos, vice president of sales for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific at Starwood Expo 2016 held in Seoul on Aug. 4.

The chain is already operating five of its hotel brands -- W, Sheraton, Westin, Aloft and Four Points -- here and will introduce new brands to Seoul, he said. 

W Singapore Sentosa Cove, a Starwood hotel member.

Aloft Myeongdong, Four Points Seoul Gangnam and two Sheratons in Daegu and Busan are scheduled to open soon, and according to the Maratos, Starwood’s higher-end hotels and business hotels might join its existing establishments.

South Korea’s inbound tourism has bounced back in the first half of this year, he said adding that the country’s outbound market also has a great potential for growth. About 80 percent of Koreans have passports and Starwood is seeking to attract outbound Korean travelers as well, said the regional sales executive.

By Hwang You-mee (glamazon@heraldcorp.com)