Starwood to Open W Hotel in Seoul

WHITE PLAINS, NY-Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. again expands its upscale W Hotel line with the flagging of the W Walker Hill in Seoul, Korea. Operation of the 253-unit property will fall under a management agreement with SK Global when the hotel opens in early 2003. W Walker Hill will be the 20th opening in the W line since its inception in 1998.

“Seoul is such a vibrant city and the location of the hotel in the exclusive resort area of Walker Hill is an ideal fit for the W brand,” says Barry S. Sternlicht, Chairman and CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts. “Travelers from Asia-Pacific to the United States have responded especially enthusiastically to W hotels, and we hope to develop many more Ws throughout the region, and in world-class cities around the globe.” The branding campaign will target upscale leisure travelers and position the Hotel as the keystone of redevelopment in the Walker Resort area.