Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has announced that it will relocate its global headquarters from the United States to India in March 2015 for a month-long immersion. Frits van Paasschen, President & CEO, Starwood and the company’s top executives will split their time between Mumbai and Delhi, conducting day-to-day business from this important global destination with immense potential for outbound travel. Following the company’s successful relocations to China in 2011 and Dubai in 2013, this third leadership move underscores Starwood’s unique approach to cultivating a global culture and fostering relationships in key growth markets.
“Global trends are revolutionising travel. Rapidly growing markets and a more interconnected world are bringing high-end travellers to new markets like never before. As a company with operations in over 100 countries, we at Starwood know that there is no substitute for witnessing firsthand this huge transformation. This is a particularly exciting time for us to relocate to India. Its renewed focus on travel infrastructure is much needed, as travel demand is fueled by economic growth and a population expected to overtake China by 2030. We all know of India as a hotbed of technological innovation and global services. Coupled with the rise in entrepreneurship and investment, millions of people are joining its middle class every year. And, of course, this means millions of new travelers. At the same time, India is both unique and immensely diverse. Our extended time there will allow us to immerse ourselves and appreciate new approaches to the business of hospitality,” said van Paasschen.
During the month, the team will travel to cities throughout India to meet with associates, customers, owners and prospective developers, including Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad, and Kochi, and also throughout South Asia to Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Maldives where Starwood is seeing many new growth opportunities unfold.
van Paasschen added, “With South Asia as our home base, we’ll be within a five-hour flight from nearly 40% of our global pipeline for new hotels. This includes major cities as well as some of the world’s most remote and untouched destinations. As we look at these growth markets, we will explore how we create opportunities for the thousands of people who will enter the global workforce through Starwood. We will also work to find ways for humans to coexist with nature while preserving it.”
