Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide today announced the signing of The Westin Bekal Resort & Spa. Owned by Green Gateway Leisure Limited, a dedicated company floated by the ATE Group with the aim of developing hospitality projects of world class standards in key tourist destinations, The Westin Bekal Beach Resort & Spa will be spread over 55 acres with rich landscaping complementing the natural streams of the famous Kerala Backwater lagoons. The resort will be the first beach resort in South India under the Westin brand and is scheduled to open in 2014.
The resort will have 6,000 square feet of meetings space and a large convention center measuring approximately 50,000 square feet. Other facilities include a fully equipped business center, a swimming pool, WestinWORKOUT® Fitness Studio, a mini three-hole golf course, and 30,000 square feet of Heavenly Spa by Westin™ comprising of approximately 12 treatment rooms and a Ayurveda treatment center.
“We are proud to partner with Green Gateway Leisure Limited for The Westin Bekal Resort & Spa in the beautiful destination of Kerala,” says Stephen Ho, President, Asia Pacific, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “This signing marks an important milestone in our overall growth strategy to expand the Westin brand in India and strengthen Starwood’s resort portfolio in the region,” he adds.
In South Asia, Starwood continues its legacy as the largest luxury/upper-upscale hotel operator in the region with 37 hotels in operation and 30 hotels under construction.
“With a rising middle class, growing disposable income, an affinity for luxury brands and huge pent up demand for travel, we believe there is a huge opportunity for resort development in India and we continue to actively pursue these opportunities across South Asia, says Nikhil Manchharam, Vice President, Acquisitions and Development, South Asia, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Starwood currently manages four resorts in South Asia, including The Westin Sohna Resort & Spa, Le Meridien Jaipur and the W and Sheraton in the Maldives. “We will open the Le Meridien Mahabaleshwar Resort & Spa later this year and currently have the Le Meridien Chennai East Coast Resort & Spa under development. We will also debut the W brand in India with the opening of the W Retreat & Spa Goa in 2014.”
