LE MERIDIEN has officially become part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc, adding to the existing brands that include Sheraton, Westin and St Regis. Worldwide Starwood takes in 750 properties in more than 80 countries. The completion of this deal significantly increases the company's footprint in Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific. In the UK and Ireland, Starwood currently operates nine properties including The Park Lane Hotel, Piccadilly; the Sheraton Park Tower, Knightsbridge and the Sheraton Belgravia ” all in London; the Westin Turnberry Resort, Ayrshire; the Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh; the Sheraton Skyline and Sheraton Heathrow. In Ireland, Starwood offers the Westin Dublin and in spring 2006 a second property will open, the entirely new five-star Sheraton Fota Island Golf Resort & Spa, Cork. The Le M”ridian acquisition includes 43 hotels in Europe, 47 in Africa and the Middle East, 28 in Asia Pacific and India and 12 in the Americas. Starwood says it will continue to operate the Le M”ridien brand and incorporate its client base into its ”Preferred Guest”. Members will now be able to add Le M”ridian points.
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