PHOTO: Bangkok, Thailand (courtesy Tourism Authority of Thailand)
Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts announced today that it expects to open 11 new hotels within the next 12 months.
With the new openings, Le Meridien will more than triple its portfolio in the Americas since being acquired by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide in 2005.
In 2014, Le Meridien is slated to open hotels in established and emerging destinations around the world, including Chicago, Dhaka, Tampa, Bangkok, New Orleans and Thimphu.
"Last year, we signed more new Le Meridien hotels and resorts than any year since we added Le Meridien to Starwood's portfolio of world-class brands," said Simon Turner, President of Global Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. "We are proud to announce another equally strong year of growth momentum for Le Meridien, fueled by tremendous owner and developer interest around the world. The pace of both conversion and adaptive re-use projects has been the key driver of the brand's growth, accounting for nearly all the openings this year in North America, and approximately half of those opening in other global markets."
Since 2005, Starwood and its hotel ownership groups have transformed Le Meridien into a contemporary lifestyle brand that focuses on culture, the arts, and cuisine for guests and locals alike. The transformation also includes a comprehensive portfolio review, and a re-development of its brand strategy, marketing approach and service training.
In turn, Le Meridien boasts its strongest portfolio and performance levels in its history.
"In 2014, Le Meridien will continue on a remarkable growth trajectory focused on global growth across the board," said Brian Povinelli, Global Brand Leader, Le Meridien and Westin. "With a reinvigorated brand positioning, built off our promise of unlocking the destination for guests, we are committed to offering a range of curated experiences around the arts, culture and cuisine in key destinations around the world."
Le Meridien's 11 upcoming hotels include (in order of debut, from May 2014 to January 2015): Le Meridien Tampa; Le Meridien Dhaka (Bangladesh); Le Meridien Chicago-Outbrook Center; Le Meridien Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok Golf Resort & Spa (Thailand); Le Meridien Charlotte; Le Meridien Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad Road (Gujarat, India); Le Meridien Mahabaleshwar Resort & Spa (India); Le Meridien Indianapolis; Le Meridien New Orleans; Le Meridien Thimphu (Bhutan); and Le Meridien Jiaonan Resort (Qingdao, China).
All new hotels will feature the brand's signature Le Meridien Hub, which rejects the traditional lobby for a more social gathering place and further builds on the brand's award-winning arrival experience and coffee culture.
Le Meridien's welcome includes large-scale artwork, a sensory experience, consists of four elements: large-scale artwork in high impact areas; the sensory experience, an "Unlock Art" program (card collections offer access to cultural centers in the specific city), and a 24-hour curated soundtrack.
The brand's signature Master Baristas lead coffee-related initiatives at each hotel, serve as coffee cultural ambassadors, and maintain knowledge of current coffee trends within the destination.
In 2013, Le Meridien opened new hotels in Dallas, Atlanta, and Santa Monica (USA); Yixing and Zhengzhou (China); Bali, Indonesia; and Cairo, Egypt.
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