UBUD

The Starwood chain of hotels and resorts has announced it will operate a sixth hotel in Bali from 2012 with the development of a 107-room resort and spa, the Westin Ubud.

Starwood’s regional vice president for South East Asia, Chuck Abbott, said the new hotel would be an attractive and complementary alternative destination to its existing beachfront properties.

The hotel will be developed with local company PT. Bina Buana Sarana.

Abbott said: “We are delighted to strengthen our presence in Indonesia.”

Starwood says the new Ubud resort will offer “new concepts in dining” at its restaurants and bars and have a fitness centre, spa, pool and a Kids’ Club to cater for younger clientele.

Meanwhile, W Retreat & Spa Bali, at Seminyak, says it will open on March 1 – not April 1 as a Starwood corporate statement said earlier this month – with a Premier in Bali opening special for inaugural guests.

W at Seminyak is one of 70 or 80 properties Starwood announced this week it plans to open worldwide this year.