Starwood to bring Aloft to India

Starwood Group, which operates leading hotels like Le Meridien, Sheraton and Westin, plans to roll-out a chain of 15 Aloft Hotels in India in 3-5 years. With an average cost of $80,000 a room, Aloft Hotels could see an investment $192 million, though the company is yet to finalise its strategy.

"In 3-5 years, we want to start construction of all 15 hotels of our new brand Aloft. Investment per room is $80,000, excluding land and each Aloft will have 130-160 rooms," Starwood senior Vice President Thomas J Monahan said.

All Aloft Hotels will be in partnership with real estate developers.

"Investment depends on how the talks with real estate developers turn out to be. If we find the opportunity we are willing to invest in the country," he said. The company may invest in partnership with real estate developers or may only provide the management or brand name, he said.

The group has also decided to announce the famous Westin Hotel in India. However, officials declined to share the location.

"In the upcoming Westin, we will provide only management," he said.

Initially, the group plans to open Aloft Hotels in Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

"We will be more interested in the new town areas of the cities, IT parks and office campuses rather than in the heart of the city," Monahan said.