ARABELLA Starwood Hotels & Resorts plans to expand its portfolio in South Africa and Namibia in the near future, according to Carsten Rath, president and ceo of  Arabella Hotel Holding International.

Speaking to TravelHub at the rebranding of Cape Town's ArabellaSheraton Grand Hotel as the first Westin Hotel in Southern Africa – now The Westin Grand Cape Town Arabella Quays – he confirmed the company planned to either manage or lease further five-star Westin hotels in Sandton, Pretoria and Durban. He said it was also looking at opening hotels in secondary markets under the business-orientated Sheraton brand; the middle-income Four Points trade mark and the resorts-driven The Luxury Collection. Windhoek would be suitable for Sheraton, Westin or Le Méridien hotels, while Swakopmund and the desert suited The Luxury Collection. 
Rath said the expansion plans were a natural progression from last year's 30-year renewal of a global joint venture agreement between Arabella Starwood shareholders, Arabella Hotel Holding International and Starwood Hotels and Resorts. In terms of this agreement, first concluded in 1998, Arabella Starwood has exclusive rights to operate hotels in South Africa and Namibia under the Starwood brands, which include Sheraton, Westin, The Luxury Collection, St Regis, Le Méridien and Four Points Next year the company also plans to begin developing a second 18-hole championship golf course at the Arabella Golf Estate near Hermanus. Its investment in South Africa so far totals R1bn and includes The Westin Grand Cape Town Arabella Quays, the Hermanus property, Blaauwklippen wine estate near Stellenbosch and the Paulaner Brauhaus at the V&A Waterfront.