Hotel and resort operator Starwood is set to open and operate a hotel under its St Regis luxury brand in the heart of Hong Kong.

Scheduled for a 2019 launch, the 129-bedroom hotel will be located in the historic Wan Chai district, a commercial and retail hub close to Victoria Harbor.

The interiors of the 25-storey St Regis Hong Kong – which is owned by China Resources Property – will be created by acclaimed Hong Kong designer André Fu.

The opening is part of Starwood’s plans to expand the footprint of the new Luxury Brands Group, which was established in December 2016 following the merger of Starwood and Marriott International.

The group includes eight luxury chains – St Regis, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Bulgari Hotels & Resorts, Edition and JW Marriott.

St Regis is the fastest growing of the brands, having more than doubled its footprint in recent years.

There are more than 40 St Regis-branded hotels open worldwide, with nine properties in the Greater China region.

The new opening will be the first St Regis in Hong Kong.