Starwood to Debut Element in Bozeman - Analyst Blog

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. HOT is set to unveil an Element branded hotel in Bozeman, MT. Christened Element Bozeman, the hotel is slated to open in Jun 2015 and will mark the brand's debut in the city. The hotel will be located at the center of the Bozeman's entertainment district.

Element Bozeman will be managed by Homebase Montana – a Bozeman-based property development company, with prominence on land, homes and hospitality related ventures.

This 104-room hotel will have studios and one-bedroom suites and will offer amenities like spa, fitness center, swimming pool and a meeting room with modular furniture. The hotel is located in close proximity to Museum of the Rockies, Emerson Center for the Arts & Culture, as well as the city's business region and a variety of boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and pubs.

Starwood's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified, eco-sustained contemporary brand, Element was launched in 2008. In its six-year journey, the brand has gained strength and popularity by ensuring guest satisfaction. Currently, the brand boasts as many as 11 hotels across the U.S. and Canada.

Further, the hotelier is developing one property each in Germany and China under the eco-friendly brand which are slated for a 2014 and 2015 opening, respectively.

The Element brand, known for its sustainability and style, mainly caters to the value-conscious guests and strikes a balance between corporate and leisure travelers. Therefore, Bozeman, which is widely known as a round-the-year tourist destination with world class ski areas and amusement parks, is an ideal choice.

Starwood currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A better-performing stock in the same sector is Marriott International, Inc. MAR, with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). In the broader leisure services sector, investors may consider Wynn Resorts Ltd. WYNN and Las Vegas Sands Corp. LVS. While Wynn sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Las Vegas Sands has the same Zacks Rank as Marriott.