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Starwood Hotels & Resort will have an additional 1,471 rooms when its five new properties in the Asia-Pacific region open this year. It will also embark on brand building campaigns and promotional initiatives, and increase Internet revenue growth.

During his visit to Jakarta last week, president Asia Pacific, Mr Miguel Ko, told TTG Asia: About 13 per cent of Starwood's total portfolio of properties are in Asia-Pacific. We plan to step up presence in the area.

Mr Ko was in Jakarta for the Starwood Asia-Pacific Smart Conference 2004, attended by some 125 participants from Starwood properties in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Bangladesh.

He said the W Seoul's opening in mid 2004, the first W in Asia, would be the most exciting opening this year. Two resorts will open in March, the 482-room Sheraton Jiuzhaigou Resort in Sichuan, China, and the 299-room Sheraton Hanoi in Vietnam.

Later in the year, China will see another Starwood property with the opening of the 280-room Four Points by Sheraton in Shenzhen in mid year, and the 157 rooms Sheraton Pattaya Resort in December.

Mr Ko said Starwood was also negotiating for properties in the south Asian region. It is also interested in resort opportunities in Bali and Jakarta. After the various events that took place in Indonesia, we understand the importance of having a domestic travel core in Indonesia.

We also see an upward trend in international travellers to Indonesia, especially from Hong Kong. So marketing campaigns to entice both domestic and international travellers will be planned as well.