Sheraton Hotels & Resorts continues expansion momentum in India

Upbeat on the buoyant hospitality sector in India, the Sheraton Bangalore at Brigade Gateway is gearing up towards its launch by kick starting a mass recruitment programme intended to hire the best talent in the industry 

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, a part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) continues its expansion momentum in India, announces the launch of Sheraton Bangalore at Brigade Gateway. Located in Brigade Gateway, an exclusive integrated lifestyle enclave of Bangalore, Sheraton Bangalore  once inaugurated, will be one of India’s premium hospitality offering from Bangalore. At par with its international standards of service, the 230 room property has been designed keeping in mind the guests’ comfort and offering amenities to suit the needs of both business and leisure travelers from multi-cuisine restaurants to luxurious spa’s.

Situated in a landscaped 40-acre neighborhood, Sheraton Bangalore at Brigade Gateway will be connected to The World Trade Centre (the international hub for business and the tallest building in Bangalore) and a shopping mall via a sky bridge. Additional highlights of this complex include the Brigade Lake and promenade, Galaxy Club – The sports and lifestyle club, The Brigade School and Columbia Asia Hospital and a residential complex with over 1200 luxury apartments.

According to Mr. Martin Wuethrich, General Manager, Sheraton Bangalore at Brigade Gateway “We are excited to be opening our newly built and managed Sheraton property in Bangalore. The ever burgeoning Indian economy is testimony that premium leisure and business travelers from global destinations are coming into India. As a global brand, we are well equipped to understand and deliver what our patrons expect and our property will be the epitome of luxury for both corporate as well as leisure travelers.” 

He further added “The Sheraton Bangalore at Brigade Gateway’s philosophy is to meet the needs of our valued, discerning customers at all times. We feel this not only means providing the latest technology, facilities and amenities with our usual high standard of service but also in creating an inviting and luxurious environment for our guests to either work comfortably or just relax and be themselves.”

Accelerating its growth in Asia and gearing up towards its official launch by the first quarter of 2011, Sheraton Bangalore at Brigade Gateway will throw open a mass recruitment programme in Bangalore on 3rd and 4th November 2010. Aimed at providing a preview of the brand experience for aspiring associates in a refreshingly creative manner, with this unique initiative the company is looking at hiring over 350 employees. Once on board, these associates will be trained meticulously to be the brand ambassadors of Sheraton Bangalore at Brigade Gateway and provide its patrons the global standard of hospitality which the brand is renowned for.

Commenting on this exclusive event, Mr. Manish Sadhu, Head of Human Resources, Sheraton Bangalore at Brigade Gateway said "We are optimistic as we launch our brand in Bangalore. Globally, Sheraton Hotels and Resorts believe that an employee coming into the Sheraton family should have combination of passion for the industry, talent and intelligence relevant to their specific field. We look for certain attributes when we interact with potential employees and a mass recruitment drive of this nature allows us to gauge the temperament of the person which is required in our industry.”

In terms of international visitors, the Indian travel market is emergent with approximately five million inbound travelers each year.  India is one of the most promising markets within Asia Pacific, with GDP estimates topping seven percent for the next two years and a consumer market expected to rank as the world’s fifth largest by 2025. This rapidly growing hotel market is fertile ground for high-caliber lifestyle brands like Sheraton Hotels & Resorts.  

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, which is the fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, is on track with plans to grow its existing portfolio of 29 hotels in India 60% by 2013. The company believes that India with a population of one billion people has just 100,000 hotel rooms and is relatively under-hoteled as compared to a while even New York City which alone has roughly 80,000 hotel rooms. Starwood’s legacy in India began in 1973, when its Sheraton brand debuted in Mumbai.  The company has since grown the portfolio to 29 hotels under its Westin, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, Aloft, The Luxury Collection and Le Méridien brands – making Starwood the largest upper-upscale and luxury US-based hotel operator.

Sheraton Mass Recruitment programme will take at MLR Convention Centre, Brigade Millennium Campus, 7th phase, JP Nagar, Bangalore on 3rd and 4th November 2010

About Sheraton Hotels and Resorts
Sheraton Hotels and Resorts is Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide's largest and second oldest brand. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1000 properties in nearly 100 countries and territories with 145,000 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, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element SM.  Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.