Starwood Hotels & Resorts is continuing to expand its Latin America portfolio with plans to have100 hotels under operation and development in the region by the end of 2013.

In the last two years Starwood opened 12 hotels, including Westin Panama, which opened in January, bringing its current portfolio to 71 hotels in the region, representing a 33 per cent growth since 2007.

In the remainder of 2013, the group expects to open seven more hotels with a total of 1,300 rooms, covering four brands across five countries.

Currently, the company operates eight brands throughout the region, including W Hotels, St. Regis and The Luxury Collection, Westin, Le Méridien, Sheraton, Aloft and Four Points by Sheraton.

Osvaldo Librizzi, co-president of Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Americas said: "In the last five years, our footprint in Latin America has expanded considerably to fulfill the increasing demand in business and leisure travel that has resulted from rising wealth, global businesses and a digitally connected world.

"We believe that demand for travel will continue to increase in Latin America and to meet that demand, we aim to have 100 hotels under operation, development and management contracts by the end of 2013."