Starwood Hotels & Resorts has announced five new projects in China.

The new signings include the first St. Regis resort in Sanya, the first St. Regis hotel in Chengdu, Sichuan, the first Sheraton hotels in Jiangyin and Dalian and a second Sheraton resort in Huizhou, Guangdong.

The operator already has 47 hotels in China and plans to double this figure by 2011.

Frits Van Paasschen, president and chief executive officer of Starwood, said: “Starwood’s long term growth opportunity in China is perhaps unsurpassed anywhere in the world. China is home to the largest number of our hotels outside of North America, and more importantly, it comprises the largest of our pipeline outside of the US.

“As point of perspective, within two years we expect to have a presence in Shanghai that rivals our existing footprint in New York City, where we have a strong representation of more than a dozen hotels and growing.”

The St. Regis Sanya Yalong Bay Resort with feature 402 rooms, including 27 villas, five restaurants and bars, a business centre, a health club, an outdoor swimming pool, a tennis court and a spa.

The 268-room St. Regis Chengdu will boast four food and beverage outlets, a health club, a spa and a swimming pool.

Adjacent to the city’s Huangshanhu Park tourist attraction, the Sheraton Jiangyin Hotel, will have 296 rooms, a convention centre, three restaurants, two bars, a health club, an indoor pool and a spa.

The Sheraton Bailuju Resort will boast a 438-room hotel, a health club and an indoor pool.

Finally, the 637-room Sheraton Dalian Xinghai Hotel will feature an indoor pool, a health club, a spa and a retail shop.