DUSHANBE, April 15, 2013, Asia-Plus -- To increase mobility in rapidly expanding markets, US hotel giant Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, inc., has relocated headquarters to Dubai during the month of March 2013.  Starwood top executives took advantage of Dubai’s strategic location to travel to 19 cities across 12 countries, meeting with potential development partners in fast-growing and emerging markets, including Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and India, press release issued by Starwood said.

Frits van Paasschen, Starwood  President and CEO said  , “I have no doubt that our time spent here will drive future hotel contracts in the region, accelerate Starwood’s position as the most global high-end hotel company and further define our culture.”

During their visit to Dushanbe on April 1, 2013, Mr. Frits van Paasschen, President and CEO of Starwood, Guido De Wilde, Senior Vice President, Director of Operations, Middle East & Central Asia, Simon Turner, President of Global Development, Vasant Brabhu, Chief Financial Officer, Phil McAveety, Chief Brands officer,  Aaron Glick, Director Marketing Analysis, and Antoine Joignant, Regional Manager for Pakistan and Tajikistan, met Mrs. Susan Elliott, the US Ambassador to Tajikistan.

The delegation also met Mr. Gagan Malhotra, Director, CHL Limited, Mr. Luv Malhotra, Executive Director, CHL Limited.  Then they toured the construction site of Sheraton Dushanbe Hotel, and visited the national museum in Dushanbe.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc has signed an agreement with CJSC CHL International last year, to open a Sheraton Hotel in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.  Scheduled to open in September 2013, the Sheraton Dushanbe Hotel marks the entry of Starwood to Tajikistan.  The opening of this hotel is part of the company’s global strategic expansion plan that includes adding more than 60 new hotels to the Sheraton portfolio over the next three years.

Starwood has raised the bar for the Sheraton brand by introducing initiatives that enhance guest experience and identify this global icon as the world’s gathering place.  “The Sheraton Brand represents nearly 50% of all Starwood rooms and has the largest development pipeline for Starwood around the world. With all investments in renovations, new hotels and guest experience, Sheraton is stronger and fresher than ever.” as Frits van Paasschen had put in a previous statement made about the Sheraton brand.

Dr. Lalit K. Malhotra, Chairman and Managing Director, CHL Limited had commented upon signing the management agreement:” We are delighted to partner with Starwood through our locally based subsidiary CJSC CHL International in introducing their iconic Sheraton brand to Tajikistan with the Sheraton Dushanbe Hotel.  We believe that our partnership with a globally recognized company such as Starwood will have a great impact on the development of hospitality in Dushanbe, and will set a new benchmark for quality of service.”

Mazen Kaddoura, General Manager of the new Sheraton Dushanbe Hotel told Asia Plus “The new-build Sheraton Dushanbe will comprise 148 tastefully decorated guest rooms and suites featuring the brand’s signature all-white Sheraton Sweet Sleeper® bed, Sheraton Fitness empowered by Core Performance, 1790 square meters of meeting space, and fashionable array of dining options.  The hotel also features signature social places that will arouse the admiration of the local and expatriate clientele.”  He added “Wherever there is a Sheraton hotel, it is always the city’s social hub because our programming and design-approach appeal universally to guests of every age and every culture.  Whether the nature of travel is business or leisure, global or local, formal or casual, Sheraton Dushanbe will suit every reason and every style.”

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1,140 properties in 100 countries and territories with 154,000 employees at its owned and managed properties.  Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, and ElementSM.  The company boasts one of the industry’s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts.