Starwood spots growth opportunity in India's underserved temple towns

Starwood Hotels and Resorts is lining up properties at leading temple towns such as Haridwar, Varanasi and Tirupati, and is on the verge of finalizing some deals by the end of the year.

"It is a highly under-supplied market for people willing to spend and upgrade. Hence, we see a huge growth opportunity for some of Starwood brands like Sheraton and Four Points. We are talking with some local developers and hope to finalize a deal — either a management contract or franchise — in the next few months," Simon Turner, Starwood's president of global development, told TOI during his recent visit to the city.

He said the company's development mantra is right properties, right places and right partners.