hospitalitystyle.com

(November 2010) posted on Wed Nov 17, 2010 EST

Development pipeline consists of 150 added units

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. said it plans to expand its portfolio of hotel spas by more than 50 percent in the coming year. More than 150 new spas are planned or are in development at Starwood, which currently features more than 300 hotel spas across several hospitality brands, including W, St. Regis, Le Meridien, Westin, and Sheraton.

“We're answering the demand for spa with a portfolio of five in-house spa brands and strategic partnerships that continue to enhance the guest experience at our hotels,” said Mia Kyricos, director of global spa brands and programming for Starwood. “Our growing spa pipeline is good for guests, as they increasingly expect us to help them stay well while traveling. And it's good for Starwood and our development partners, since we know spa gives us the opportunity to positively impact rate, occupancy and average spend per guest.”

Starwood's expansion plans for its spa brands include:

• Shine Spa for Sheraton, which currently has three units, expects to open a dozen more locales by the end of 2011.

• Iridium Spa, Starwood's newest spa brand designed exclusively for St. Regis, will debut at The St. Regis Lhasa Resort in Tibet in December, with several others to follow in 2011.

• Explore Spa by Le Meridien, which intends to introduce a new perspective on spa at Le Meridien hotels, will debut early next year at Le Meridien Oran in Algeria and Le Meridien Pyramids in Egypt, with other conversions and new builds in development.

• Heavenly Spa by Westin plans to double its 20 existing locations around the world to 40 in the next two years.

• Away Spa by W Hotels will grow from five to 15 spas in the next few years.

Additionally, Starwood said it is continuing its strategic partnership with Steiner Leisure, which now owns the Bliss and Remede Spa brands and amenity lines that remain exclusive to Starwood's W and St. Regis hotel brands, respectively. That relationship also continues to grow with 17 Bliss Spas and 10 Remede spas already operating at Starwood hotels, and several more in development.

“Like pools in the 1980s and fitness centers in the 1990s, the increased presence of spas at hotels has been fueled by both demand and the perceived quality of hotels with spa facilities,” Kyricos said. “Spas are no longer considered an amenity; guests expect them. And they're no longer viewed as an indulgence, but an essential part of the balance and wellness guests seek while on the road.”