Starwood Hotels partner IOI Properties Group Bhd

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced it has signed an agreement with IOI Properties Group to manage two hotels – Four Points by Sheraton Puchong and Le Méridien Putrajaya, slated to open in the fall of 2014 and 2015, respectively. These two new hotels will add 599 rooms to Starwood’s robust portfolio in the country and reflect Starwood’s desire to expand into the fast growing districts of Malaysia. Puchong and Putrajaya are part of the Klang Valley area, which includes Kuala Lumpur and its suburbs and adjoining cities and towns in the state of Selangor.
“We are delighted to announce the signings of Four Points by Sheraton and Le Méridien in the Klang Valley, underscoring our expansion plans in Malaysia, one of the world’s most dynamic destinations,” said Chuck Abbott, Regional Vice President, Southeast Asia, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. “We look forward to further strengthening our footprint in the country as we welcome these two hotels into our portfolio.”
“IOI Properties is happy to partner Starwood Hotels and Resorts to expand the Four Points by Sheraton and Le Méridien brands in the Klang Valley,” said Lee Yeow Seng, Chief Executive Officer, IOI Properties Group Berhad. “The hotels will be considered landmark developments within the two townships and contribute positively towards their growth and our portfolio.”
“Malaysia’s strong economic growth and healthy tourism arrivals present us with a very exciting growth opportunity,” said Matthew Fry, Senior Vice President, Acquisition & Development, Asia Pacific, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. “Starwood’s development in the fast growing districts of Puchong and Putrajaya will enable us to cater to Malaysia’s growing middle class and the increased number of business and leisure travellers in the market.”
Starwood currently operates 12 hotels in the country’s key destinations, including Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Penang, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, and Kuching. In addition to Four Points by Sheraton Puchong and Le Méridien Putrajaya, Starwood’s Malaysian pipeline includes: The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur, W Kuala Lumpur, Sheraton Petaling Jaya Hotel, Sheraton Desaru Hotel, and Four Points by Sheraton Kota Kinabalu.
Four Points by Sheraton Puchong
Scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2014, Four Points by Sheraton Puchong is strategically located in the heart of Puchong’s developing new business district, Puchong Financial Corporate Centre (PFCC) at Bandar Puteri Puchong. Puchong is a major town in the Petaling district of Selangor, Malaysia and is situated midway between Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, the federal administrative capital. The hotel is located about 32 kilometers from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport; and is approximately a 20-minute drive to the Kuala Lumpur city centre. The hotel will be conveniently accessible by public transportation, and only be a short walk from the LRT station due for completion in the first quarter of 2016.
Four Points by Sheraton Puchong will feature 249 stylish and contemporary guestrooms, including 12 executive suites designed for an unencumbered, comfortable stay. The hotel will also feature a total of 1,110 square metres of meeting space, including an 800-square- metre grand ballroom. Additionally, the hotel will have a swimming pool, two food and beverage venues including the brand’s signature restaurant, The Eatery, a fitness centre, and a variety of other amenities such as free Wi-Fi, free bottled water and free coffee – all amenities that make the Four Points brand a favourite with travellers worldwide.
Upon completion, Four Points by Sheraton Puchong will be the fifth Four Points by Sheraton property in Malaysia, following the success of the brand in Langkawi, Sandakan, Kuching and the recently opened Four Points Penang.
Le Méridien Putrajaya
Strategically located in Malaysia’s federal administrative capital, Le Méridien Putrajaya will be situated in close proximity to the city’s commercial and retail areas, including the IOI City Mall, which is slated to open late this year. The hotel will offer 350 contemporary guestrooms, all outfitted with the signature Le Méridien BedÒ. Le Méridien Putrajaya will feature two innovative restaurants concepts, fitness centre, spa facilities, and a swimming pool. The hotel will have more than 1,630 square metres of state-of-the-art meeting and event space, including a grand ballroom.
Le Méridien Putrajaya will also feature the signature Le Méridien Hub™, which re-interprets the traditional lobby into a social gathering place, and further builds on the brand’s award-winning arrival experience and coffee culture. Le Méridien arrival consists of four elements: large-scale artwork in high impact areas; the sensory experience, illustrated through Le Méridien signature scent, sound and use of light; UNLOCK ART™ programme, featuring artist designed key card collections that offer access to Le Méridien affiliated contemporary cultural centers in the city; and a 24-hour curated soundtrack by French Bossa Nova band Nouvelle Vague. The Hub features the signature Master Barista, a recently launched initiative to meet the growing demands of coffee lovers at every Le Méridien hotel worldwide. Master Baristas lead coffee-related initiatives at each hotel, serve as a coffee cultural ambassador, and maintain knowledge of current coffee trends within the destination.
Le Méridien Putrajaya will be the brand’s third hotel in Malaysia after Le Méridien Kuala Lumpur and Le Méridien Kota Kinabalu.