Hotels chief praises our tourism vision |04 July 2008

Roeland Vos, president of Starwood Hotels & Resorts for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, praised Seychelles’ and President James Michel’s vision to offer high-class tourism when he talked about the company’s plans with him at State House.

Mr Vos was accompanied by Starwood’s vice-president for Africa and the Indian Ocean and the general managers of Le Méridien Fisherman’s Cove and Le Méridien Barbarons, Olivier Français and Pierre Delplace.

The chain owns, operates, franchises and manages hotels, resorts, spas, residences and vacation ownership properties under nine owned brands.

It has more than 860 hotels in over 95 countries with about 232,000 rooms worldwide, and Mr Vos said the company has plans for expansion here which will be announced soon.

He said Starwood plans to have 1,500 hotels around the world, and “a few of those will be in Seychelles”.

“This country has everything needed by tourism, including the beautiful natural environment and friendly people who give good service,” he said, adding that although the Méridien hotels are working well, the company could consider introducing other brand names from the nine it operates under.