STARWOOD HOTELS & RESORTS is accelerating its Aloft hotel brand's expansion rate, with five properties opened last month, a sixth coming on stream this month, and more in the pipeline. October openings were in Charlotte, Chicago, Philadelphia and Phoenix, and in Abu Dhabi, while the brand arrives this month in Austin, Texas. Three more Texas properties - the Aloft Austin Northwest, Aloft Fort Worth Downtown and Aloft San Antonio Downtown - are planned over the next three years. Outside North America, Starwood has set 2010 opening dates for Alofts in Brussels, and Bangalore, Chennai and Coimbatore in India.