LOS ANGELES

From the American Lodging Investment Summit here, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced it opened 27 hotels in North America in 2011, more than it had predicted at this time last year, with the addition of several high quality conversions that were signed and opened during the course of the year.

In addition, in 2011 Starwood signed more new deals than in the previous two years.

Looking ahead to 2012, Starwood is slated to open 20 new properties in North America, not including late breaking in-the-year conversions which are expected to result in additional new hotels this year.

"Our nine unique and differentiated lifestyle brands are all conversion friendly and Starwood has an unsurpassed ability to match the right brand with the right development opportunity in the right market,” said Simon Turner, president of global development at the company.