DUSHANBE, January 11, 2013, Asia-Plus  -- Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (Starwood) plans to open its first hotel complex in Tajikistan during this year.

According to information posted Starwood’s official website, this year, the company will open nearly two thirds of new hotels in countries with fast-growing emerging markets.

Starwood reportedly plans to open its first hotel in Tajikistan and will continue expanding hotel chain in important markets such as Peru, Brazil, Mexico, Panama, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Hungary, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is an American hotel and leisure company headquartered in Stamford, CT.  One of the world''s largest hotel companies, it owns, operates, franchises and manages hotels, resorts, spas, residences, and vacation ownership properties under its nine owned brands.  As of December 31, 2009, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. owned, managed, or franchised 992 properties employing over 145,000 people, of whom approximately 26% were employed in the United States.

The following list of Starwood brands is chronological, according to each brand''s entry into Starwood: Westin; Sheraton; Four Points by Sheraton; The Luxury Collection; W Hotels; St. Regis; Le Méridien; Aloft; and Element by Westin