MANILA, Philippines--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced the signing of The Westin Manila Sonata Place and The Residences at The Westin Manila Sonata Place, a new build property owned by Robinsons Land Corporation that marks the Westin brand's first mixed-use development in Southeast Asia.

The Westin Manila Sonata Place and The Residences at The Westin Manila Sonata Place is slated to open in 2019, joining two other Philippines-based hotels in the Starwood pipeline—The Westin Manila Bayshore and Sheraton Manila Hotel, scheduled to open in 2018 and 2017.

"We are thrilled to sign our first mixed-use development under the Westin brand in Southeast Asia," said Charlie Dang, Regional Vice President, Southeast Asia, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific. "With the continued economic growth of the Philippines, and Manila in particular, we are seeing increased demand for upper-upscale international accommodations and we are confident that the Westin brand will resonate with travelers and potential homeowners."

With 300 guestrooms, The Westin Manila Sonata Place is perfectly located on San Miguel Avenue, the main street of Ortigas Business District in downtown Manila. The Residences at The Westin Manila Sonata Place will feature nearly 350 private residential apartments, ranging from one to three bedroom units. Approximately 11 kilometers from Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the development embraces the Westin brand positioning of For a better you™ by offering amenities and programs designed to inspire balance and enhance well-being, leaving guests and residents feeling better than when they first arrived.

"Manila is currently enjoying an economic transformation, which has primed the destination for development," said Rajit Sukumaran, Senior Vice President, Acquisitions and Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific. "This signing underscores the company's vigorous expansion plans in the vibrant island nation and we look forward to enhancing the hospitality landscape in this dynamic city."

The Westin Manila Sonata Place will offer guestrooms fully equipped with the brand's signature amenities, such as the world-renowned Westin Heavenly® Bed, the Heavenly® Bath experience, and an ergonomic work area for optimal productivity. The hotel will also offer three food and beverage venues, including the Lobby Lounge, a full service restaurant and a specialty restaurant.

Other features and programs designed to help guests feel their best include the WestinWORKOUT® Fitness Studio, a full-service spa, and a swimming pool. In addition, the hotel will expand Manila's offerings for meetings and event planners with over 1,400 square meters of function space, including two ballrooms and six meeting rooms. Owners of The Residences at The Westin Manila Sonata Place will enjoy a separate pool, fitness center and lounge, as well as access to the public areas of the hotel—such as the lounge, spa, and dining venues.

"We are thrilled to partner with Starwood Hotels and Resorts, marking our entry into the upper-upscale hotel segment with the globally-renowned Westin brand. Equally exciting is that we are taking the collaboration one step further by launching the first Westin-branded residences in South East Asia," said Frederick Go, President and COO for Robinsons Land Corporation. "As a leading real estate developer in the Philippines, we are positive that our strong partnership is set to uplift the real estate industry in Manila. This project will be at the forefront of both our hotel and residential development portfolio, being the most luxurious project to-date of Robinsons Land Corporation."

Starwood has experienced remarkable growth momentum in Asia Pacific and remains the region's largest upper-upscale and luxury hotel operator with close to 300 operating hotels in Asia Pacific and more than 230 hotels in the pipeline.

About Westin Hotels & Resorts

Westin Hotels & Resorts has been a leader in wellness and hospitality for more than a decade. Today, Westin has more than 200 hotels and resorts in nearly 40 countries and territories, and is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 1,200 properties in 100 countries and over 180,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis^®, The Luxury Collection^®, W^®, Westin^®, Le Méridien^®, Sheraton^®, Four Points^® by Sheraton, Aloft^®, element^® and the recently introduced Tribute Portfolio™. The Company boasts one of the industry's leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG^®), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood recently announced plans to spin off its Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc. business, a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands, into a standalone public company by the end of 2015. For more information, please visit http://www.starwoodhotels.com.